I 



OF 



DRA%VN FROM 

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 

WITH 

NOTICES OF OTHER MATTERS. 

BY 

IGNATIUS LOYOIiA ROBERTSON, IL,, Ijo e. 

A RESIDENT OF THE UNITEO STATESr 



• " He that wsritesj 

Or makes a feast, more certainly invites 
Misjudges than his friends; there's notaguestj 
But will find something wanting or ill drest." 

" But here, where Freedom's equal throne 

To all her valiant sons is known ; 

Where all are conscious of her cares, 

And each the power that rules him shares, 

Here Jet the biird, whose dastard tongue. 

Leaves public arguments unsung, 

Bid public praise farewell ; 

Let him to fitter climes remove. 

Far from the hero's and the patriot's iove, 

And lull mysterious monks to slumber in their celL*' 



NEW-YORK: 



PUBLISHED BY E. BLISS. 

AND SOLD BY G. C. & H. CARVILL J W. B. GILLEY, AND C. 
FRANCIS. BOSTON, HiLLtARD, GRAY, & CO. AND CAR- 
TER & HENDEK. PHILADELPHIA, JOHN GRIGQ, 
AND CAREY & HART. 



G. L. Austin, &Co. Printerso 




.V 



Southern District of JVew-York, ss. 

BE IT RE- 
MEMBERED, That ontlie eleventh day of Jtuip, A. D. 1S30, 
in the 55lh year nf the Iiuiepeiuience oithe Uniled Slates of 
America, El;iiii Biis.=, of the said <!islrict, liatlj depo.-ited 
ill tills office tlie title of a hook, tlie risbt wliereof he claims 
as proprietoi-, in tlie words following, to wit. 

"Sketches of Piihiic Chnracfers. Drawn from the living 
nnd the dead, with notices of other matter.^, hy Ignatius Loyo- 
la Robinson, L. L. D. a resident of the United Slates. 



" He that writes, 



"Or makes a feast, more certainly invites 

"Hi? judges than his friends; there is not a gnest; 

" Bui will iind soineiliing wanting, or ill drest." 

" But here, where freedom's equal throne 

"To all lier valiant sons is known ; 

" Where all are conscious of her cares, 

" An(\ each the power that rides him shares, 

" Here let the hard, wjiose dastard tongue 

" Leaves public arguments unsung, 

"Bid pid)lic praise farewell ; 

" Let hiin to filter (dimes remove, 

"Far from the hero's and the patriot's ioye, 

"And lull myc-terious monks to. slumber in their cell." 

In conformity to the act ofthe Congress of the Uniled States, 
intituled, " An act for the encouragen)ent of learning by se- 
curing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the autJiors 
and |)roprietors.<jf such copies, during the times therein men- 
tioned;" and also lo the act entitled, " Ah act supplementary 
to an act, entitled, "An act for the cjicouragement of learn- 
ing, by securing the copies of maps, cimrls, and books, to the 
autliors and proprietors of sncdi copies during the timesthere- 
in mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts 
of <lesigning, engraving, and etching historical and other 

prints." 

^ FRED. J. BETTS, 

Clerk ofthe Southern District ofJ^Tew-York. 



, / 



J"'* 



<j' 



/ 



Webster 

Calhoun 

Everett 

Livingston 

Jones 

Kandolph 

Johnson 



LETTER L 
LETTER IL 

« • « 

LETTER IIL 

« • 

LETTER IV. 
LETTER V, 

• • 

LETTER VI. 
LETTER VIL 



Dwight 
V The Presidents 



LETTER VIII, 

« « 

LETTER IX. 
LETTER X. 



y City of Washington 

LETTER XL 

yf The Capitol — its ornaments 



. 30 



33 



. 31 



41 



47 



. 53 



57 



. 63 



82 



h ' COIS TENTS. 

LETTER XII. 

Y The President's House . . , HO 

LETTER XIII. 
Library of Congress— Columbian Institute— Lit- 
^ erature of Washington— Periodicals . 117 

LETTER XIV. 

Colonizalion Society— The Clergy — Medical 
'^^ Scliool- Orphan Asylum— -Tyber Creek— Man- 
ners and Customs — College — Convent of Vis- ,- 
itation . . „ . . .132 

LETTER XV. 
New- York — Poets . . . .157 

LETTER XVI. 
Basil Hall— Owen . . . , 

LETTER XVII. 
Paint Qrs . . . . .194 

LETTER XVIII. 

Dr.. MJtcbel'l . • . . . 205 

LETTER XIX. 

Boston . . . .212 

LETTER XX. 
Bartiet . • • • ♦ -219 

LETTER XXI. 

Gen., Brown-— Tador — Judge Washington , 241 

LETTER XXII. 
Paler, t Office . . . . . 253 



TO COLONEL A. WARD, 

OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N. Y. 

1>^AR Sir, 

I DEDICATE this little work to you, re- 
membering, with pleasure and gratitude, your 
kindness in rendering me every facility in grati- 
fying my curiosity, on my first visit to Washing- 
ton, while you held a seat in Congress. I had 
been long enough in the United States to feel 
an attachment to the country ; and I would not 
yield a particle of my reverence for the distin- 
guished men of it, to any reviler of them, who- 
ever he might be. There is only one point in 
which I am often constrained to agree with those 
who are unfriendly to this nation, and that from 
the truth of the remark, not the temper of it. 



vi DEDICATION. 

They say that " you never think of a man, howe- 
ver great his virtues, and his talents, when he 
is out of office ; that sometimes, at the death of 
some one who has filled a considerable space 
in the world, your gazettes praise him to-day, 
and this is curtailed in to-morrow's paper ; and 
by the time the next edition of an American Bi- 
ographical Dictionary is printed, he appears in 
aflat, chalky picture, of half a column, as grace- 
less as his epitaph, in some country church- 
yard, where his bones may rest ; and this, per- 
haps, a character whose lights and shades, pro- 
perly disposed of, might h^ve been made a splen- 
did portrait." 

The writers of the day should speak freely of 
the living ; the truly great have nothing to fear ; 
the oftener their merits are discussed, the better 
for them. In countries like England and the 
United States, the abodes of free institutions and 
freer minds, every thing should be presented in 
full relief; political and civil rights should be 
closely examined, and the manners, habits, and 
morals of the people, become a common topic : 
the characters, services, claims, and pretensions 
of men in high places, should be searched out 
and precisely adjudged. The eyes of the pa- 



DEDICATION. vii 

triot writer should never be shut to the faults of 
men in power, whether their station or authority 
be executive, legislative, ministerial, or subal- 
tern. I write my creed openly, my dear sir, 
because I believe in it sincerely ; but ask no 
man to follow it implicitly. You and I have long 
since settled this, that to be friends, it is not ne- 
cessary to agree in every particular in politics 
or religion ; and that more light is to be obtain- 
ed from a strong and an honest mind, that dif- 
fers from us, than from a shallow one whose 
great merit is his acquiescence ; neither you 
nor I love feeble spirits. I have spoken of men, 
of measures, and of things, after my own man- 
ner ; no one is answerable but myself: if there 
is aught of evil in it, be it mine ; if aught of 
good, place it, if you please, to the impres- 
sions received from friends and intimate ac- 
quaintances. You will probably revisit the seat 
of government again as a politician ; your ser- 
vices and talents will be wanted. I shall not be 
there, as a looker-on in Venice; but whatever 
may be your pathway in the journey of life, 
whether in the courts of justice or in the halls 
of the legislature, may you be successful and 
happy, and still retain that bland and courteous 



viii DEDICATION. 

disposition, and that love to do kind things, 
which secures the good man's benison, and the 
orphan's prayer ; and without which talents, 
office, and fame, are empty names. 
Most truly. 

Your devoted friend, 

THE AUTHOR. 
New-York, June, 1830,. 



SKETCHES. 



LSTTER I. 

Washington, Jan. 1830. 
Dear Sir, 

You are among the few in your coun- 
try who take an interest in the affairs of this ; 
and in compliance with your request, I shall 
from time to time send you such notes as I 
have made, or shall make of men and things 
in the United States. I have seen and heard 
much during the seventeen years I have resi- 
ded in the United States, and think I can speak 
with honesty and candour of their institutions, 
their men, and of their affairs. Having assu- 
med the responsibility of a citizen I shall call 
it my country. As the alarms of war have 
passed away, it is natural for the reading pub- 
lic to seek for descriptions of orators, states- 
men, poets, painters, &;c. rather than of war- 
riors or heroes. This is an active, thinking 
age, and mind seems to be getting its pro- 
per influence in the community, on this as 
well as on the other side of the water. In my 

2 



6 WEBSTER. 

remarks upon the good folks of this country, I 
shall not confine myself to any regular or- 
der, but give you my opinions as they arise 
in my mind, believing that in letters from one 
friend to another there should be no disguise. 
With this I send you several of the public 
documents printed by order of Congress, and 
a bundle of pamphlets containing some of the 
best American speeches, and also forward a 
slight notice of some of the most distinguish- 
ed speakers. As the New-England orator, 
Mr. Webster, now occupies the largest space 
in the halls of Legislation, I shall give a 
sketch of him, which I have no doubt is sub- 
stantially accurate. 

The person of Mr. Webster is singular and 
commanding : his height is above the ordinary 
size, but he cannot be called tall ; he is broad 
across the chest, and stoutly and firmly built, 
but there is nothing of clumsiness either in his 
form or gait. His head is very large, his 
forehead high, with good shaped temples. He 
has a large, black, solemn looking eye, that 
exhibits strength and steadfastness, and which 
sometimes burns, but seldom sparkles. His 
hair is of a raven black, and both thick and 
short, without the mark of a gray hair. His 
eye brows are of the same colour, thick and 
strongly marked, which gives his features the 



WEBSTER. 7 

appearance of sternness ; but the general ex- 
pression of his face after it is properly examin- 
ed, is rather mild and amiable than otherwise. 
His movements in the house and in the street 
are slow and dignified ; there is no peculiar 
sweetness in his voice, its tones are rather 
harsh than musical, still there is a great varie- 
ty in them ; and some of them catch the ear 
and chain it down to the most perfect atten- 
tion. He bears traits of great mental labour, 
but no marks of age ; in fact, his person is 
more imposing now, in his forty-eighth year, 
than it was at thirty years of age. 

Mr. Webster was born in the state of New- 
Hampshire, in the Town of Salisbury, on the 
banks of the Merrimack ; his early education 
was scanty, for at that time tlie public schools 
in that part of New-England where he lived 
were not in the same state they nov/ are. A 
few months of instruction from some badly ed- 
ucated school-master v/as all that could be ob- 
tained at home. Mr. Webster's father was a 
man of note in his neighbourhood ; sometimes 
a representative to the legislature, a county 
judge, and at all times a farmer ; having seve- 
ral children, he did not feel able to give them 
the advantages of a liberal education ; but the 
faculties of his son Daniel attracting the at- 
tention of all the intelligent part of the com- 



8 WEBSTER. 

munlty about him, he made an effort and senii! 
him to an academy to prepare himself for 
college. The sagacious eye of his inslructer 
was not long in seeing his extraordinary ca- 
pacity for his studies, for he strode before hi& 
classmates with ease, and left them to come 
ap as they could. 

In 1797 he entered Dartmouth college, and' 
graduated in course in 1801. In this semina- 
ry he was distinguished as a young man of 
astonishing powers of mind ; but he coursed 
over too larfje a field of knowledo-e to allow 
him time for those minute and accurate stu- 
dies which alone can make a thorough classi- 
cal scholar. On leaving college he took the 
charge of an academy for a year, a usual 
course for the graduates of that college, and 
then commenced the study of the law. He re- 
mained a considerable time in the country in 
his native village in the office of a tasteful and 
an elegant scholar, but who was then enga- 
ged in the profitable part of his profes'sion, the 
collecting business ; and this practice being 
soon understood, Mr. Webster was desirous 
of seeing courts and witnessing a more enlar- 
ged course of practice ; and for this purpose 
went to Boston, and put himself under the care 
of Christopher Gore, a distinguished advocate 
in that metropolis. Gore soon saw and spoke 



WEBSTER. 9 

prophetically of the talents of his pupil. Some 
political essays he M'rote in the papers at that 
time attracted the attention of men of judg- 
ment, and these productions were spoken of as 
exhibiting great vigour and point. As soon as 
he was admitted to the bar he returned into 
the country and commenced the practice of 
his profession at Boscawen, the town adjoining 
his native village. It was not long before all 
eyes were turned upon him, and his business 
rapidly increased, but he deemed the field too 
narrow for him, and in about three or four 
years he left Boscawen for Portsmouth, the 
largest town in New-Hampshire, a place of 
extensive commerce and great enterprise. 
His fame had preceded him ; he was soon 
known to all, and employed in most of the im- 
portant cases in the courts throughout the 
State. Smith and Mason were then his com- 
petitors ; they were shrewd and learned men, 
who had been brought up in a school of sharp 
practice, and the young aspirant for distinction 
had to fight them hard, and he did beard them 
by all the subtleties of special pleading ; and 
with equal taunts and gibes and sarcasms 
and such weapons, inflicted equal harms un- 
til they acknowledged him as their peer, and 
made with him an amnesty that was perpetual. 
Mr. Webster has often said that this was a 



20 WEBSTER. 

good school for him. No doubt it was a good 
thing for him to be under the necessity of con- 
tending alone with his seniors, men who were 
at the upper row af the bar and had long mo- 
nopolized the best business. But Mr. Web- 
ster had not been at the bar more than seven 
years when he shared with them the leading 
cases in all the courts. 

At this time party spirit ran high, and the 
prominent men in New-Hampshire were 
anxious to see Mr. Webster display his pow- 
ers in the halls of Congress. — He had taken 
sides in politics in early life, and had been ac- 
tive with his pen in support of his principles ; 
but he never suffered his zeal to get the better 
of his judgement ; — he was no demagogue. 
The first halo of political glory that hung 
around his brow was at a convention of ail 
the great spirits in the county of Rockingham, 
where he then resided, and such representa- 
tives from other counties as were sent to this 
convention to take into consideration the state 
of the nation, and to mark out such a course 
for themselves as should be deemed advisable 
by the collected wisdom of those assembled. 
On this occasion an address with a string 
of resolutions were proposed for adoption, 
of which he was said to be the author. They 
exhibited unc mmon powers of intellect and 



WEBSTER. H 

a profound knowledge of our national interests. 
He made a most powerful speecli in support of 
these resolutions ; portions of which were re- 
printed at that time and which were much ad- 
mired in every part of the Union. From this 
time he belonged to the United States, and not 
to New-Hampshire exclusively. Massachu- 
setts seemed to take as deep an interest in his 
career as his native state. Not far from this pe- 
riod, a traveller passing through Portsmouth, 
when some election was near at hand, when 
at the inn it was announced over the dinner ta- 
ble that Mr. Webster was to speak at a caucus 
that evening ; this news ran from one part of 
the town to another and all were enthusiastic at 
hearing that Mr. Webster was going to speak. 
The gentleman's carriage came to the door 
and he was about to get into it, when the hostler 
said, sir, are you going to leave town ? Mr. 
Webster is to speak to night. The gentleman 
finding all classes so much delighted to hear 
that Mr. Webster was going to speak, order- 
ed his horses to the stable, and put off his 
journey until the morrow. 

At early candlelight he went to the caucus 
room ; it was filled to overflowing, but some 
persons seeing that he was a stranger gave 
way, and he found a convenient place to stand ; 
no one could sit. A tremendous noise soon 



12 WEBSTER. 

announced that the orator had arrived ; but as 
soon as the meeting was organized, another 
arose to make some remarks upon the object of 
the caucus ; he was heard with a poHte apathy ; 
another and another came, and all spoke well, 
but this would not do, and if Chatham had 
been among them, or St. Paul, they would not 
have met the expectations of the multitude. 
The beloved orator at length arose, and was 
for a while musing upon some thing which 
was drowned by a constant cheering : but when 
order was restored he went on with great se- 
renity and ease, to make his remarks without 
apparently making the slightest attempt to 
gain applause. The audience was still, ex- 
cept now and then a murmur of delight which 
showed that the great mass of the hearers were 
ready to burst into a thunder of applause, 
if those who generally set the example would 
have given an intimation that it might have 
been done ; but, they devouring every word, 
made signs to prevent any interruption. The 
harrangue was ended ; the roar of applause 
lasted long and was sincere and heart-felt. It 
was a strong, gentlemanly, and an appropriate 
speech, but not a particle of the demagogue 
about it ; nothing like the speeches on the 
hustings to catch attention. He drew a pic- 
ture of the candidates on both sides of the 



WEBSTER. 13 

question and proved, as far as reason could 
prove, the superiority of those of his own 
choice ; but the gentleman traveller, who was 
a very good judge, has often said that the most 
extraordinary part of it was that a promiscu- 
ous audience should have had good sense 
enough to relish such sound, good reasoning, in 
a place where vague declamation generally 
is best received. 

As the traveller went on toward the East, 
he found the fame of the speech had preceded 
him and was talked of in every bar room and 
at every public table. In 1809 he was put in ' T/^ 
nomination for congress and was elected. Par- 
ties were nearly equally divided, but his name 
gave great weight to the ticket. In New- 
Hampshire the members of congress are cho- 
sen by general ticket, without regard to dis- 
tricts, or without any further regard to them 
than that of consulting public feeling in se- 
lecting candidates. In Congress he soon be- 
came distinguished and was surrounded by the 
New England delegation, or rather a greater 
part of them ; and was considered as conspicu- 
ous among them, if not at that time precisely 
their leader. On the great question of renew- 
the Charter of the Bank of the United States 
he made a long speech full of well tried facts 
and sound principles. In any other but high 



14 WEBSTER. 

party times his reasonings would have been 
irresistible. The question was lost, but when 
the subject came up again after the peace of 
1815, the advocates of the Bank did but little 
more than repeat his arguments in favour of 
its establishment. 

On retiring from public life he found that 
his pecuniary affairs were deranged and his 
friends in Boston invited him to come there, 
as a wider field for his talents, and promised 
him business ; he removed in 1817, and at 
once entered into full practice, and shared the 
best of it, with the elder luminaries of the bar 
of Suffolk. His practice was not confined to 
that county, but he was called into Essex, 
Middlesex, Norfolk, and in fact to other coun- 
ties as far as he would go from home. His 
fame was every day increasing at the bar ; and 
he seemed to have foro;otten that he was ever 
a politician. To his clients he was every thing, 
and they complained of nothing, but that it 
was difficult from the press of those who 
sought him, to obtain an audience to speak of 
their cases. Some of the bar fretted at his oc- 
casional sharpness and overbearing ; and his 
greatest admirers will not deny that at times, 
he was petulant, and restive, and he seemed to 
have forgotten, that he was in a different lati- 
tude from that in which he was educated ; but 



WEBSTER. 15 

on reflection he generally made amends for 
any pain he had given. There seemed in his 
day a common law in New-Hampshire, as well 
as in England, that every witness might, by ex- 
amining counsel, be put to the torture and that 
it was all fair play. In Massachusetts it was 
not so. The rights and feelings of witnesses 
were protected by the court, sometimes fas- 
tidiously ; he knew nothing of that at first, 
and when he had learned it, often forgot it. In 
1823 he was elected from Boston to the legis- 
lature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
but did not take an active part in any impor- 
tant discussion, perhaps there was not any 
thing which came up at that time to require 
his aid. 

In 1824, Mr. Gorham, who had ably and 
faithfully represented the District of Suffolk 
in Congress, resigned his seat in that body. 
A merchant of talents, and polished educa- 
tion, was put in nomination. Mr. Putnam was 
one of the most decidedly popular men in the 
district, and all parties had made up their 
minds to send him, when some of Mr. Web- 
ster's friends put him in nomination only a few 
days before the election ; and when it was as- 
certained that he would stand as a candidate, 
there was a strong desire evinced among his 
old friends to support his election ; but not 



16 WEBSTER. 

a few were pledged to Mr. Putnam, who was 
a most unexceptionable candidate. In this 
state of things caucuses were held, and at each 
the speakers struggled to say the kindest 
things of the two candidates ; and when they 
had made a choice, appeared to regret that 
both could not be members ; suffice it to 
say, Mr. Webster was chosen. He came 
in at the next election unanimously, he was 
of course the representative of a city, and a 
people, and not of a party. From the House, 
he was elected to the senate of the United 
States, and in that body he took the same stand 
he had held in the popular branch of the go- 
vernment. He came to it, at once, as he was 
known to all the members of the senate per- 
sonally or by reputation. There is not, proba- 
bly, a lawyer in the United States of his age, 
%vho has argued so many important causes as 
Mr. Webster, notwithstanding his long politi- 
cal services. 

When he came to Boston, he could not have 
ranked among the first scholars of our coun- 
try, for there were many in his own cir- 
cle of acquaintance, before him in all the 
nicities of classical learning. He had not felt 
this before, and he now devoted many of his 
leisure hours to classical learning, not merely 
as an amusement, but as a study ; and at the 



WEBSTER. 17 

same time made himself master of the history 
of his country ; a branch of learning in which 
most of the American politicians are greatly 
deficient. In this latter course, he saw minute- 
ly the origin of our institutions, and the princi- 
ples on which they had flourished. 

These acquirements giv^ a ripeness and 
finish to his speeches on all national questions 
which they had not before ; like Lionardo da 
Vinci, he added to the magnificence of his ear- 
ly designs, all the gatherings of experience, 
and the improvements of taste. It is seldom 
that the bold outline is patiently filled up. 

The situation of every man has much to do 
with his reputation, if it does not alter his 
character. If it be true that 

" Pig-mies are pigmies still, though perch'd on Alps, 
And pyramids are pyramids in vales," 

yet when the latter are placed on an eminence, 
their morning and evening shadows are cast at 
greater length, and the vast pile is seen in all 
its magnificence at a much greater distance. 
Comingtothe metropolis of New-Engjand, was 
indeed setting himself on a hill. It was a hap- 
py change, for he was made for that city, and 
that city for him. He seems to have the same 
power over the people of Boston, and indeed 
of all Massachusetts, that Pericles had over 
3 



IQ WEBSTER. 



> 



the Athenians, and for aught I know is likely to 
last as long ; for fifteen years it has been wax- 
ing apace without feeling any wanings of pub- 
lie opinion. It may be that the measure of his 
fame is filled up, and that he has reached his 
acme ; but it is impossible for him to become 
unpopular while he retains the powers of his 
mind, and continues his exertions for the hon- 
our of his country. 

But to speak more particularly of his mental 
endowments ; he is not wanting in originality, 
but has not so much of it as to lead him per- 
petually after novel creations. His memory 
is strong, and the stores of his knowledge are 
laid up in admirable order, and ready for use 
as exigences or circumstances may require. 
His early friends say that his imagination was 
once of a high order, and that he wrote vigor- 
ous poetry whenever he chose ; and as farther 
proof of the strength of his fancy they produce 
a splendid eulogy delivered by him on the 
death of one of his classmates when in college. 
It has the gorgeousness of youthful genius 
about it, and was for years considered the most 
extraordinary composition ever written at 
Dartmouth college ; but if imagination was 
then his most striking characteristic, it is not 
so now. The severe discipline to which he, 
on coming to the bar, put it under, soon de- 



WEBSTER. 19 

stroyed the inspiration of the muse, and laid 
her lifeless at the feet of reason. That pow- 
er of the mind, whatever metaphysicians may 
call it, that looks over the utmost extent of a 
subject at a glance ; that which grasps all its 
near and remote bearings, and comprehends 
its dependencies and relations, and can throw 
out all the results of reasoning upon it to the 
public in the smallest compass of time, is his, 
— pre-eminently his. It may be called gen- 
ius, judgment, talent — -any thing — no matter 
what: it is greatness, mental greatness, ab- 
stracted from circumstances or accident. 
There are men who say that Mr. Webster 
has been over-rated — this is not true ; some of 
his over- weening friends, have at times for 
want of discernment, spoken of his ordinary 
^ifforts at the bar, and other places, as wonder- 
ful productions, comparing them with his high- 
est efforts. The greatest minds are sometimes 
common-place, and many of his speeches 
should have passed away as other common- 
place matters have done. It is equaUy wrong 
to look to Ills orations on great occasions for 
the proudest productions of his intellect. 
These productions are noble compositions, 
powerful discussions of the subject ia hand, 
abounding in deep strength, pertinent remark, 
and striking illustrations ; but they are not, af- 



20 WEBSTER. 

ter all the praise which has been bestowed up- 
on them, his most felicitous labours. He can- 
not lash himself into passion in the closet ; he 
requires excitement that he cannot find there ; 
he must be roused by some spirit of emulation^ 
rivalry, or resentment ; he must be awakened 
by the cry that the Philistines are upon him, 
before the strength o^f his seven locks are felt. 

It is before a court and jury, or in the delibe- 
rate assembly that the full extent of his pow- 
ers can be understood ; and even there it de- 
pends much on who his opponents may be, 
whether he shall be great or not. 

But if the oration at the landing of the Pil- 
grims, is not his greatest effort, it was indeed 
a fine one ; the production abounds in depth of 
thought and majesty of language. 

The oration at Bunker's Hill was literally de- 
livered to the world. In the open air, exposed 
to sun and winds, stood an orator ripe with the 
thoughts of manhood, before all the impres- 
sions and the glow of early days had gone ; 
myriads of listeners were around him ; heroes 
were clustering near him, among thera the re- 
presentatives of other hemispheres ; holy men 
who were just entering eternity, were ready to 
implore a blessing, and depart ; the bones of 
friends, and enemies, were shaking in their 
graves beneath the feet of new and old gene=- 



WEBSTER. 21 

rations, and passing time, was announcing that 
half a century had elapsed since the roar of 
battle had broke over the sacred ground ; the 
corner stone of a time defying monument was 
then resting at his feet, and an hundred thou- 
sand bosoms in his sight were swelling and 
heaving with patriotism and republican pride ; 
how sublime the scene ! what a moment for 
" thoughts that breathe and words that hum :" 
and is it not enough to say that all were sat- 
isfied ? 

His next oration was on the death of Adams 
and Jefferson. It was delivered on the 2d 
of August, 1826, in Fanuiel Hall, the crad 
of American liberty. Not more than one tent, 
of those who strove to hear him could get ad 
mittance. The excitement was wonderfui 
Happy is the orator who has an audience thai 
love him ; his glory is more than half perfect- 
ed before an accent is heard, or his lips 
move — 

I have seen 
The dumb men thronj^ to see him, and the blind 
To hear him speak : the matrons flung their gloves. 
Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchiefs, 
Upon him as he passed : The nobles bended. 
As to Jove's "Statue ; and the commons made 
A shower and thunder, with their caps and shouts : 
I never saw the like. 

CORIOLANUS. 

3* 



22 WEBSTER. 

His manners at the bar, and in the delibe- 
rate assembly, are peculiar. He begins te- 
state his points in a low voice, and in a slow, 
cool, cautious and philosophical manner ; he 
goes on hammering out link by link his chain 
of argument with ponderous blows, and while 
thus at labour, you rather see the sinews of 
the arm, than the skill of the artist. It is in re- 
ply, that he comes out in the majesty of Intel- 
lectual grandeur, and lavishes about him the 
opulence of intellectual wealth. It is when the 
darts of the enemy have hit him, that he is all 
might and soul ; it is then, that he showers 
down words of weight and fire. Hear him, 
and you will say that his eloquence is founded 
on no model, ancient or modern, that he never 
read the works of a master for instruction ; 
all is his own, excellencies and defects. His 
voice has an extraordinary compass ; for he 
fills the largest room without great effort. His 
emphasis belongs to himself alone ; it is found- 
ed on no rule — nor can it be reduced to any. 
Fanueil Hall, and the largest room of the 
capitol, are within the power of his voice, and 
he speaks in them with apparent ease. The 
style of his eloquence is also all his own ; he 
resembles no American orator we yet have 
heard ; he does not imitate in the least, the 
Addisonian eloquence of Alexander Hamilton, 



WEBSTER. 23 

which was the day-spring in a pure vernal 
atmosphere, full of health and beauty ; nor 
does he labour for the sweetness of Fisher 
Ames, whose heart on all great occasions, 
grew liquid, and he coidd pour it out like water : 
nor like him, could Mr. Webster, by the ma- 
gic wand of the enchantress make a paradise, 
and people it with ethereal beings ; no ; all the 
subject of this notice did, or could do, was to 
work in a straight-forward course, with mor- 
tal engines, and show himself mighty in «arth, 
air, and water ; but in these his sway was 
Herculean : He had all the elements at com- 
mand, and he used them as one of earth-born 
mould, but of gigantic proportions. He never 
strives to dazzle, confuse or astonish; but 
goes on to convince and to conquer by legiti- 
mate means. When he goes out to battle, it is 
without squire, aid-de-camp, or armour-bear- 
er ; although hundreds are ready to take any 
part in and about his person. In his conflict he 
trusts to no arm but his own — he rests only on 
the staff of his own spear. 

I beheve that it can be said of him, that he 
shews none of that vanity in debate, which 
belonged to the very nature of the great father 
of Roman eloquence, and was conspicuous in 
all his acts of a public nature; but if he never 
said with him « Video, paires concsripti, in me 



24 WEBSTER. 

ominum or a, atque occulos esse convcrsos ;" yet 
from his lofty carriage, his haughty brow, his 
swelling veins, and curled lip, you would judge 
that he had no small share of that sin "jTor 
which fell the angels,^^ 

Some of his admirers talk of his wit in de- 
bate. There is often a piquancy and girding re- 
tort in his arguments, that by some may be call- 
ed wit ; but it is not the wit of Sheridan or of 
any professed wit ; nor that wit which sparkles 
out, *nd illumines the subject under discussion, 
and seems to be the offspring of the moment, 
but is a matter of long and previous delibera- 
tion, perhaps, of frequent rehearsal. Instead of 
those pyrotechnics, of the war of words, Web- 
ster's speeches abound in the burning intensity 
of that heat which sheds a flashof light around, 
such as we see proceeding from a glowing mass 
of iron, when drawn by a powerful arm across 
the anvil. In the United States, there have 
been, and there now are, men of some one, or 
more qualifications superior to any single trait 
of Mr. Webster's mind. Some have more 
learning, others more wit, some have a sweet- 
er voice, others have a more refined taste ; and 
not a few of more imagination ; but in the 
combination of all these powers, he has no 
equal. He seizes his subject, turns it to the 
light, and however difficult, soon makes it fa- 



WEBSTER. 25 

miliar, however intricate, plain, and with a 
sort of supernatural power, he possesses his 
hearers, and controls their opinions. His 
friends yield at once with a delighted willing- 
ness, and his opponents give up after a i^ew in- 
effectual struggles ; even those who talk on 
against him, show that their tones are ahered, 
and that they are conscious of the victory he 
has achieved over them, and the thraldom in 
which they are placed. The " reluclantes dro. 
cones" after he has brushed the swarm of flies 
away, soon become quiet in his grasp. 

There are many, and those too of no little 
intelligence, who think and avow their opin- 
ions, that the present race of politicians are in- 
ferior to that which has just passed away ; 
and to account for their opinion, they say it re- 
quires less of talent, to administer a govern- 
ment, than to make a constitution, and less en- 
ergy to cultivate peace, than to fight out a re- 
volutionary war. We are not converts to this 
doctrine. To equipoise the general govern- 
ment with state rights, to keep all safe on the 
waves of party violence, to keep the great 
states from infringinor on the rio-hts of the 
small, and to take care that no state should op- 
press its own citizens, is quite as hard a task, 
and requires as much mind, prudence, labor, 
and calculation, as did the great work of the 



26 WEBSTER. 

preceding generation, that of establishing na- 
tional independence, and agreeing on a form 
of popular government. 

Mr. Webster has every advantage for intel- 
lectual discipline, having been born among the 
yeomanry of New-Hampshire, he became ear- 
ly acquainted with their capacities, feelings 
and habits, and from his practice as a law- 
yer among them, at the commencement of 
his professional career, he became still more 
accurately acquainted with their whole char- 
acter. There is no profession, equal to that 
of the law, to teach one a knowledge of human 
nature ; entering on a political course, his 
views were expanded and he saw men playing 
higher games with pretty much the same mo- 
tives. One of the evils attending great men in 
England, and other aristocratic governments 
is, that they have but little acquaintance with 
the middling classes in society, and many of 
them from being educated privately, have nev- 
er tried their corporeal and mental strength 
with beings of their own age. 

When mind contends with mind, without any 
of the distinctions of society in a public school, 
the powers of each are very accurately mea- 
sured — and the youth grows up to manhood 
with a proper knowledge of his own capacity. 
These school exercises are efficacious in ta- 



WEBSTER. 27 

king out of the mind that vanity, and conceit, 
that partial friends are apt to infuse into for- 
ward boys. The college in which Mr. Webster 
was educated is most favourable to this mode 
of testing minds. The scholars are all on an 
equality the moment they enter the institution. 
All have their way to make in the world — and 
the moment they have graduated, fly off to dis- 
tant places and begin their labors as those 
well aware of what they have to do. 

In every place where Mr. Webster has been 
called to act, he has been prominent, in courts 
of justice and in halls of Legislation. Before 
he was thirty years of age, he stood unequal- 
led in congress as a debater, and even then, his 
claims were acknowledged by a most powerful, 
but generous political opponent, Mr. Lowndes. 
In the convention for alterinfj and amending; 
the constitution of "Massachusetts, the Pa- 
triarch of that numerous and highly intel- 
lectual body, John Adams, stated openly, that 
Mr. Webster, was the first man among them ; 
and indeed, he did not hesitate to say, that he 
had never met in his long acquaintance with 
statesmen, a superior mind, viewing him in 
every respect. 

His enemies say that he is ambitious ; this 
will not be denied by his friends ; but can 
there be such a thing as a statesman, >vithout 



28 WEBSTER. 

ambition? Even the martyr's bosom is not free 
from ambition ; he looks to the crown of glory- 
in another world. That Mr. Webster has fail- 
ings, no one will deny ; for who is without 
them? but they are not those which impair 
his mind, or injure his political usefulness. 
Some may have cause to complain of his dis- 
tance or coldness ; others of his forgetfulness 
or want of generosity in acknowledging their 
merits. The nil admirari is frequently an in- 
gredient in a statesman's creed, but after all, 
justice in making out her balance sheet, has to 
allow for the jealousies of the mediocre and 
the little, as well as for the coldness of the 
great. The writer of this article is no fohow- 
er, vassal, or even lover of Mr. Webster ; but 
he thinks him a man of whom his country 
should be proud, and one that every honest 
politician should honor and protect ; for if he 
sometimes acts with a party, his general sen- 
timents are truly national and noble. 

In every country the character of a public 
man is common property, and in most coun- 
tries they speak of them with great freedom, 
and often with much profligate severity. Mr. 
Webster, however, has suffered more from 
injudicious and indiscriminating admirers than 
from the bitterest enemies he has ever had.- 
Those nauseous flatterers and cringing toad- 



WEBSTER. 29 

eaters who exist always near a great man, and 
who are ready to lie, fume and cry aloud in 
his praise, disgust honest admiration and of- 
fend common sense ; no man has suffered more 
from this pittiful race than Mr. Webster. They 
are not content with showing the size of the 
man from the impressions of his footstep ; nor 
inferring his strength from his deeds of prow- 
ess ; but they must deal in the miraculous : 
Such a man as Mr. Webster requires no 
such abettors or false aids ; he is above them. 
On the basis of his own merits he may rest 
his fame ; it will support through all the ages 
of this republic a collossal figure for the pride 
of the nation, and the delight of those who love 
to contemplate the finest efforts of human 
genius. 



\ 



IiETTiBB. 11. 



Washington, , 1830. 

Dear Sik, 

The Vice President, Mr. Caliioun, now 
occupies a large space in the eye of the na- 
tion. He is, indeed, a very considerable man 
in the political world, and no ordinary one as 
a statesman or an orator. He is now about 
forty-eight years old, born in Pennsylvania, 
and bred in South Carolina. He received his 
education at Yale College, and was a favour- 
ite of that great instructor, Dr. Dwight, then 
president of that Institution. Soon after he 
was admitted to the bar, he was sent to Con- 
gress, and at once took a leading part in the 
business and debates, of that period. From the 
House of Representatives he was made Sec- 
retary of War. In this office he made all his 
calculations on a broad, bold scale ; he reor- 
ganized the army and got rid of no small share 
of the blustering ignorance which is always 
found among the fair character and talents of 
such bodies after a war of some continuance. 
His plan of fortification for the most expo- 
sed parts of the sea-board and frontiers v/as a 
bold and magnificent one, worthy of the war 



CALHOUN. 3] 

department and of a great people. The par- 
simonious were alarmed at the extent of his 
expenditures, and the very prudent thought 
him lavish of the public monies ; still the wise 
and calculating supported him from a belief 
in the utility of his measures, lie hated that 
parsimony which is always in the end the 
worst of prodigalities. Such was the state of 
the army when he came into office that it re- 
quired a bold hand like his to reform it. There 
can be no doubt but great injustice was done 
to individuals in razeeing, yel, on the whole, 
the public were benefitted by the reform. 

From the head of the war department, Mr, 
Calhoun was elevated to the Vice Presidency, 
and served one term witlf'Mr. Adams, and is 
now on his second, with General Jackson. 

The vice Presidency has not been a place 
for. an ambitious man heretofore. He was 
not until the elevation of General Jackson 
considered a member of the cabinet, and had 
but little more to do than to preside in the 
Senate. This requires but little talent. Mr. 
Calhoun was a candidate for the presidency, 
but at length sent in his declinature in favor of 
general Jackson. This gave a shock to his 
popularity, for he had then enlisted in his 
cause some of the first spirits in the country. 
These were all at once afloat and some con- 
fusion ensued. 



32 CALHOUN. 

Mr. Calhoun is now prominently before the 
public. He has high claims and many friends ; 
but he, nor any one else can divine his fate. 
The changing winds are not more uncertain 
than popular favour ; it hloiceth where it listeth, 
and no one comprehendeth it. 

Mr. Calhoun is a man of great readiness, 
sagacity and daring. He comes quickly to a 
point, and acts fearlessly upon what he thinks 
is well for him to do. In conversation Mr. 
Calhoun is fluent, rapid and ingenuous, and 
the productions of his pen are of the same 
stamp. He stops for none of the graces of 
finishing. His eloquence is not of a high 
grade if manner and voice make up any por. 
lion of eloquence. •His action is vehement 
and his words flow in torrents. When Secre- 
tary at war he brought forward some of the 
young men of talents he had known in college 
or as fellow students at law, and every selec- 
tion justified his knowledge of character, and 
his just appreciation of ability and tact for bu- 
siness. He is ambitious ; but who would moil 
and toil for many years for place and power 
if he were not ambitious ? The thorny pinna- 
cle of power must be reached by long and 
painful labour and countless privations, anx- 
ious days and sleepless nights belong to him 
who seeks distinctions in any path of life. 



XiBTTISn III. 



Washington, , 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

Mr. Everett you have seen, and 
therefore I need not describe his person to 
you ; when in Europe he was, as you know, 
much caressed as a learned man ; his course 
has been singular and prominent. While at 
Harvard University as a student he was dis- 
tinguished, though very young ; on leaving 
college he studied divinity and was ordained 
and settled a youthful prodigy. In elegant 
literature he had no equal of his age and the 
world was delighted with his pulpit eloquence ; 
whenever he preached crowds of the most ac 
complished of both sexes assembled to hear his 
splendid sermons ; these discourses if they had 
not so much of the holy unction in them as in 
some sermons of graver men, still there was a 
purity of taste and a sweet solemnity that 
made him delightful to hearers of all creeds. A 
few years after his ordination he was elected 
to a professorship in Harvard University. 
This office he accepted on condition of being 

allowed to visit Europe and reside a year or 
4* 



34 EVERETT. 

two in Germany. He set out on this tour with 
all the ardour of a young man panting for 
knowledge and ambitious of surpassing all, in 
his accomplishments. In his absence he visit- 
ed Rome, France, and England, and tarried 
for some time at Gottengen, and became ena- 
moured with German literature. He extend- 
ed his travels to Greece, and there drank in- 
spiration among the relics of ancient taste and 
greatness. He examined the Parthenon in its 
ruins with great minuteness, as well as all 
other things worthy of notice. He returned 
to his Alma Mater with a mind filled with 
" the spoils of time," and a memory stored 
with the humanities, the great object of his 
travels, and commenced his labours as a pro- 
fessor, and at once became the pride of the 
University and the delight of his pupils. 

He did not confine himself to the instruc- 
tion of college classes, but gave a splendid 
course of lectures on Architecture, which 
was numerously attended by the most enlight- 
ened persons of both sexes in the metropolis 
of New-England, At this time he was consid- 
ered the Editor of the North American Re- 
view, which was well conducted, and took the 
lead in the periodicals of the country. His 
portions of the work are distinguished for taste, 
talent and learning ; there is a variety and 



EVERETT. 35 

raciness about his productions that mark one 
born and bred among the Muses ; In fact he 
was a scholar by profession, and wore the lau- 
rel among all the lettered and polite as an eve- 
ry day ornament. In an evil hour for American 
literature the politicians of his District turned 
their eyes upon him as member of Congress, 
and he left the lecture room, perhaps never to 
return. In Congress he is respected for his 
learning, and talents. When he rises all are 
anxious to catch every word he has to say — 
not that his eloquence there, is as good as it was 
in the pulpit, or the lecture-room, but that the 
information he gives may be relied on, for he 
has day and date, chapter and page, for every 
thing he says, and the purity of his language 
forms a great contrast to that of many of those 
around him. He has too much refinement for 
the rough and tumble of Congress skirmishino-. 
In this body he has frequently been selected 
as Chairman of committees to make reports, 
on important subjects, and these are generally 
admired for their clearness of reasonino- and 
appropriateness of style'; these reports are said 
to prove that he is greater in the closet than 
on the floor of the House ; but he is great 
every where. 

Such men are wanted in the American Con- 
gress, for loving the country so much as I do. 



36 EVERETT. 

I am constrained to confess that there is no 
little ignorance in the National assembly, and 
that learning does not always receive its due 
honour. Mr. Everett's eloquence is charac 
terized by taste, sweetness, harmony, delicacy 
and correctness. It has the Ciceronian flow, 
ease and purity, and all the great Roman's ac- 
curacy and marks of scholarship. He is 
said to be ambitious, and to dearly love polit- 
ical distinctions. Of this, it is probable, he will 
soon get cured in the shiftings and chang. 
ings of party, and in the fulness of his genius, 
return from the bustle of the Hall of Legis- 
tion to the groves of the Academy he desert- 
ed. If it should so happen, it will be well ; for 
learning should have more knowledge of the 
world than it generally has, and the world 
should have more learning than it is disposed 
to honour and cherish. 



LETTER IV. 



Washington, ^ , 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

Edward Livingston, of the Senate, 
is a hale, vigorous man, past the grand cli- 
macteric. He has been active in profes- 
sional and political pursuits for more than 
forty years. He was born in the state of 
New- York, and by brilliant talents, and fa- 
mily connexions, was early brought into pub- 
lic notice. As a lawyer he was conspicuous 
and took a high stand, at a very early 
age, at the bar. In 1793 he was in Con- 
gress, and took an active part on the questions 
which arose upon Jay's Treaty. He was, of 
course, in the minority ; which is the best 
school for a young, aspiring politician. He 
can discuss measures without being responsi- 
ble for them, and learns the science of attack 
and defence without danger of injuring his 
reputation. After being in Congress for some 
years, he was elected mayor of the city of 
New- York; an office then next, in point of 
emolument, to that of the President of the 
United States. It is said that he was a very 



38 LIVINGSTON. 

effective, energetic executive officer ; and 
" that there never was a better judicial officer 
on the bench than Edward Livingston." He 
was succeeded by De Witt Clinton. 

When the United States extended their 
sovereignty over Louisiana by purchase, Mr. 
Livingston went to settle in New-Orleans.. 
Here he was at once the first lawyer of that 
country, and was employed in all the impor- 
tant cases. Being master of the French and 
Spanish languages, and well read in the civil 
law, he was called upon to compile their code ; 
which was so ably done that his compilation 
is considered the law of the land in all the 
courts. Since that period he has been em- 
ployed by that state to form a penal code of 
laws, a code of procedure and of state pri- 
son discipline. All this he has furnished ; 
and Congress are about to take a part of it for 
the District of Columbia. In preparing this 
he has spared no labor, and suffigred no obsta- 
cle to deter him for a moment. A very con- 
siderable portion of the manuscript of his code 
was burnt in the city of New-York, at ten 
o'clock in the evening, and at seven next 
morning he sat down to begin his labors upon 
it anew. What cannot be accomplished by 
such perseverance ? In making up these codes 
he has ransacked the annals of all ages and 



LIVINGSTON. 



39 



nations, and read every treatise on crime and 
punishment that the lettered world affords : 
and in addition to this, held a correspondence 
with all the philanthropists of the age : nothin«- 
has escaped him. 

" To him familiar every Icg-al dome, 

The Courts of Athens, and the Halls of Rome." 

Those who have read these codes, do not 
hesitate to say, that for comprehension and 
clearness, exactness in defining crime, for dis- 
tinctness and simplicity in making out the 
modes of proceeding to ascertain the guilt or 
innocence of a prisoner, that his surpasses all 
other codes that can be found. And another 
excellence of it is, that it leaves as little for 
the discretion of the judge as possible. 

Although Mr. Livingston's life has been a 
busy one, and he has done much at the bar 
and in Congress, and out of these walks of 
life he has contended with principalities and 
powers in more than a ten years warfare, 
and come off with success ; still he looks to 
his code for permanent fame. Besides its 
learning and wisdom, there is a living and 
immortal principle in it, that will bless it for 
ever. It is a benevolent code. His justice 
is not a confused, sanguinary Deity, who lifts 
her devouring sword at every ofience ; but 



40 LIVINGSTON. 

one who punishes in mercy, making discrimi- 
nations in the nature of punishments as she 
discovers differences in the nature of crimes. 
If Mr. Livingston does not, in his lifetime, see 
it adopted entire, by any state or country, he 
will find that its spirit will silently enter the 
penal codes of all civilized nations, and sweet-, 
en the bitter fountains of penal vengeance. 

Mr. Livingston is one of the most learned 
men of his age ; for he has been assiduous in 
acquiring knowledge, and has lost none of his 
acquisitions by ill health or decay of mental 
powers. If his style is less copious than it 
was in his earlier days, it has lost nothing of 
its vigour or spirit : even his imagination has 
all the creative powers it had when he first 
appeared before the public, as his last speech 
in the Senate, on Mr. Foot's resolutions, will 
fully show. 



lETTER V. 



Washington^ Jan, 1830. 
Dear Sir, 

Mr. Wirt you have heard of as the Author 
of the British spy and several other works 
which have been read and admired in this 
Country and in Europe. He is now about sixty 
years of age, a stout, fair, good looking man. 
He has been for many years a laborious law- 
yer, and for several years past Attorney Gen- 
eral of the United States, which office he has 
filled with credit to himself and to the Nation. 
His manners are bland and courteous, partic- 
ularly, to those who seek him, tinged with a 
little of that Virginian trait — self-considera- 
tion, which gives a dignity to a public man 
when it does not degenerate into the affecta- 
tion of high bred fashion, without many early 
advantages. Mr. Wirt, in the midst of the busi- 
ness of an arduous profession, has made himself 
a fine classical scholar. His imagination is 
strong and refined. He sees every subject in 
itstrue light and paints it with a master's touch; 
.some of his descriptions glow with all the co- 
lours of fancy and are yet most admirably true 
5 



42 WIRT. 

to nature. Many of his intellectual portraits 
are of the first order of genius, and some of his 
narratives are wrought up to a dramatic affect. 
\^r^ His often supposed that one so imaginative 
could not have a logical mind. This is an 
error : No one would deny to Shakespeare or 
Milton a good share of logical power, yet 
they ^'^ exhausted worlds and then imagined 
new.^^ Strip the arguments of Mr. Wirt of all 
their beautiful drapery, and tear away all the 
clusters of diamonds that sparkle around them, 
you will find as sound reasoning as in the dry 
speeches of a professed logician, who from an 
iron throat and hide-bound brain, give his hear- 
ers a string of tasteless sylogysms. By many 
Mr. Wirt is held up as the first orator in the 
United States, and no one will venture to say 
that he is not among the first. His fame had 
reached its acme before he was made Attorney 
General ; there is notliing in the duties of that 
office, in quiet times, to increase a man^s know- 
ledge or his fame. Most of the business of 
the United States is done by the district attor- 
nies, who are generally men of talents and do 
their work so well, that but little of it goes to 
Washington, for the attorney general to at- 
tend to. Mr. Wirt is held in high estimation by 
the Supreme Court, and the bar of that court at 
Washington. In Virginia and in Maryland Mr. 



WIRT. 43 

Wirt was familiarly known as an advocate ; but 
the good people of the East had never heard 
him in a cause until last year. In an equity 
cause of importance involving reputation and 
large sums of money, he made his appearance 
in Boston. No great actor that ever crossed 
the Atlantic was more talked of before his arri- 
val than Mr. Wirt. The learned, the Thebans 
of both sexes assembled to hear his argument, 
but with the most kindly disposition imgina- 
ble. He was pitted against their Champion, 
and the interest was wound up to a high pitch. 
The race was as well contested as that great 
one between Henry and Eclipse ; and like that 
won by half a neck. In other words it was 
thought a fair match ; bone and muscle con- 
tended with blood and spirit. Mr. Wirt lost his 
cause but came off with the affectionate res- 
pect of the people, even of his opponents. 
These interchanges of civilities among Eas. 
tern and Southern men, united with a display 
of the powers of each have a good effect in 
removing prejudices and establishing friend- 
ships among the people of different sections of 
of the country. 

Look into the Supreme Court of the Uni- 
ted States, almost any day of its session, and 
you will perceive a small man with a solemn 



44 JONES. 

countenance, a slow, low voice, with a head 
covered with thick hair growing rapidly grey, 
and with eyes fixed upon his papers, talking 
to the court as if they were statues, but in a 
strain of most powerful reasoning : This is 
General Walter Jones, one of the first law- 
yers in the United States. He was educa- 
ted at William and Mary College, is a good 
classical scholar, and one of the best meta- 
physicians of the country. He is unlike the 
orators of the south ; there is no dash of elo- 
quence in his speeches, but a neat, elegant 
and appropriate choice of words is found in 
every remark that fiills from him. Those who 
know him speak well of him as a gentleman ; 
but it is only as a public man that I know 
him. He resides in the city of Washington 
and is engaged in all the importynt causes that 
originate there, and in many from abroad. 
When once engaged he touches every point 
in a subject before he sits down ; and he is 
sometimes tedious from the great length and 
minuteness of his arguments, but in making 
an analysis of them, when he has finished 
you find that they have been as close and 
particular as the subject would admit of, and 
the reviewer would meet with no small diffi- 
culty in suggesting any alterations for the 
better. The Supreme court have a profound 



JONES. 45 

respect for General Jones and never lose a 
word of his argument however long he may 
be in a cause. He meets the arguments of 
his opponents with more ingenuity, if possible, 
than he shows in makng his own ; he seizes the 
weak points with acuteness and turns them to 
his advantage with great adroitness, but with- 
out sneer or sarcasm. In the circuit court of 
the District of Columbia he is entjaged in all 
the trials, and is as good a jury lawyer as any 
man at the bar. There are times, when 
warmed with his cause before a jury, that he 
is thought to be eloquent ; certainly he is very 
impressive and successful. His is a species 
of eloquence, and that of the very best kind to 
an enlightened jury ; and the manner of sum- 
moninga jury in the District, secures the best 
of the citizens for the pannel. In the street 
and in the court room, Jones seems to be in a 
constant state of abstraction, a sort of disease 
of the mind. This is adduced by his city 
friends as a wonderful proof of mental labour. 
It may be so in his case ; but abstraction of 
mind, and absence of mind, are frequently ta- 
ken for the same thing ; they are not so : 
the former is the power of concentrating 
thoughts on one subject, and calling them in, 
as it were, from all their wanderings, to in- 
crease their force in its consideration ; while 
5" 



46 JONES. 

absence is an unconsciousness of any thought, 
and may belong to one grade of intellect as 
well as to another. There are no uniform 
symptoms of mental greatness ; it shows itself, 
when it exists, under all guises and in various 
modes ; but under any, it can never be entire- 
ly concealed. How unlike each other are 
these distinguished lawyers ! as unlike asCi- 
cero and Sallust. All hearers like both ; but 
each has his devoted admirers. 



XiSTTER VI. 



Washington Jan. 1830 
Dear Sir, 

I have often seen that most singular man 
you enquire after ; and often heard him speak. 
Many of the sketches of his person have been 
more accurate than those given of his mind. It 
must be confessed that his person and dress 
are so unique that a just representation of 
them would, to those unacquainted with Mr. 
Randolph, seem a caricature. He is about 
six feet in height, perhaps his narrow chest 
and long legs make him appear a little taller 
than he is. His head is small, his shoulders 
high, and all parts of his physiognomy, except 
his eye, altogether unintellectual. He is beard- 
less, or nearly so, and his muscles and his 
skin about his face shrivelled, althoufrh he is 
not more than fifty. six years of age. Notwith- 
standing his height, his frame is so slender that 
his weight is not more than one hundred and 
thirty pounds. His long legs support a short 
body that is not more than a talon in the zoaist." 
His arms are very long and small and his fin- 



48 RANDOLPH. 

gers bird-claw-like, and in debate he makes 
them very expressive. His hair is dark, thin 
and lank, and lies close to his head. His move- 
ments are rapid and awkward. His voice 
is shrill and high, and perfectly soprano : lat- 
terly his voice has lost most of its power ; his 
throat seems to be dry and husky. This is 
the effect of disease, for he has lon^ been an 
invalid, the fine piercing and fife-like notes of 
his voice are nearly extinct. So much for his 
person. His mind is still more singular than 
his person. Hi§ perceptions are, 1 speak of 
him as he has been, quick and his impressions 
strong ; but it is in the strength and elevation 
of his imagination that he is above most men. 
His judgment, from every evidence I have 
ever seen or heard, is either feeble or never 
consulted in his acts or speeches. His mem- 
ory is good, often minutely accurate ; but it is 
now somewhat impaired. His attainments 
are considerable, rather miscellaneous than 
political or prafsssional. His knowledge of 
the English language is critical and extensive, 
and he is quite fastidious in his choice of 
words ; and one of his best things about him 
is that he keeps a constant vigil over the iiood 
old English, his mother tongue. His acquain- 
tance with English history is minute ; and it 
may be said of him that he is well read in ^en. . 



RANDOLPH. 49 

eral history ; but saving and excepting the an- 
nals of his own state he knows not much of 
American history. His classical knowledge 
has been overrated. In the common latm 
classics he is quite at home, and quotes with 
great readiness, but his acquaintance with 
those less read in this country must be limit- 
ed, for in his passion for display he never 
mentions them. 

Mr. Randolph has been in congress most of 
the time since he was eligible from constitu- 
tional age, and at all times has been conspicu- 
ous as a declaimer, but never has shown the 
slightest tact for business. I believe the Jour- 
nals of congress do not show that he ever made 
a report in all this length of time ; and no one 
recollects of his ever havino- drawn a bill. 
He has nothing more to do with the ordinary 
proceedings of congress than the last comet 
that appeared in our solar system had in reg- 
ulating the motions of the planets. 

The only congressional business he ever set 
seriously about, was the impeachment of judge 
Chase, and in this he failed. He made a splen- 
did declamation on this subject, mostly unsup- 
ported by the facts in the case ; he laboured 
hard to demolish the judge but did not suc- 
ceed ; the good sense of the Senate saved the 



50 RANDOLPH. 

enroachments on the judiciary. Randolph 
came out of the contest without a single laurel. 

He has notwithstanding his pretentions to 
consistency heen a politician that no party 
could for a moment, or but for a moment trust. 
He disliked Washmgton, and violently op- 
posed John Adams, and was disappointed in 
Jefferson, as from him he expected much, 
but the philosopher could not, or certainly 
did not trust him. He openly quarrelled with 
Madison and never was cordial with Munroe. 
He raved like a madman against John Q. Ad- 
ams, and said and did every thing in his power 
to injure his administration ; and it is well 
known that he supported Jackson from his 
dislike to Adams, for he did not stop in Wash- 
ington to witness the inauguration, but hurried 
off to Virgmia, thinkmg he had done enough 
for the hero. 

By profession Mr. Randolph is a democrat, 
by every habit an aristocrat, for he is proud as 
Lucifer, and except in his maudlin moments 
suffers no one to approach him with familiar- 
ity. His friendships are as capricious as an 
April cloud; and his enmities bitter and last- 
ing. His tongue ** a chartered lihertine'^ has 
under it the venom of asps. No one can tell 
on whom his next cateract of abuse is to fall, 
and no one is secure from it. He has libelled 



RANDOLPH. 51 

some of the best men the country ever produ- 
ced, and praised many that no body else ever 
heard of ten miles from their native village. 
He has, like ihe jesters in the courts of Kings 
in former days, been previleged, to rail on all 
around him, and it must be confessed, that 
this same railer is diabolically ingenious in his 
invention of phrases, and in his choice of 
words, to give force to his fiendish disposition. 
He stole a leaf from the curse-book of Pandi- 
monium to express his hatred for Henry Clay. 
The victim of his wrath called Randolph to 
the field, and fired an ineffective shot at the 
shadow, in order to convey away the agonies 
of his resentment. It may be asked by you, 
if there are no bright spots on his escutcheon, 
no fair side to the medal. Ii is said that he 
is generous at times ; — that he is a kind mas- 
ter to his slaves ; — that he is a good neigh- 
bour ; and always popular in his district ;— 
these things are something, and in a fair esti- 
mate of him should not be forgotten ; and not- 
withstanding his love ofEnglish books, English 
manners, Baronial Castles and feasts, and his 
profuse panegyrics on Ducal pedigrees, which 
show more acquaintance with the blazonry 
of their armorial bearings than of his own 
Country's history, yet, there are men who say 
that he loves his country, and like his father 



52 RANDOLPH. 

would have the courage to fight for it, that is 
if he could have his own way of fighting. 

On the whole survey of his character Mr. 
Randolph may he set down as one of the most 
eccentric beings that any age ever produced, 
and perhaps this same examination would as- 
sist to confirm the moral philosophers in their 
opinions that all eccentricity is a species of 
madness. 



3C^TTI!R Vn. 



Washingion, Jan. 1830. 
Dear Sir, 

Col. Richard M. Johnson, now of the 
House of Representatives was last year of the 
Senate. He is about fifty one or two years old 
a full blooded Kentuckian, that is a man gen- 
erous, warm-hearted, brave, ambitious ; and 
supplying the defects of education, by perse- 
verance, hardihood, and fearlessness. He was 
sent early in life as a representive in Congress, 
and at once took an active part ; and quite 
a high-minded one, all things considered, 
\mong the memorabilia of his life it should 
not be forgotten, that he had the magnanimity 
to espouse the cause of Mrs. Hamilton, on a 
petition for pay for the services of her husband, 
for many years in the revolutionary war. 
This pay, Col. Hamilton had relinquished, in 
order that his motives should not be questioned, 
in the course he was about to recommend to 
Congress in regard to his funding system. He 
had made a noble sacrifice on the altar of pat- 
riotism, and he was now no more. The great 
6 



54 JOHNSON. 

man when living, had asked nothing. He was 
dead ; and it was right that the nation should 
remember the wisdom of one so generous, 
Col. Johnson never gave up the point until it 
was accomplished. Story, and others came 
to the aid of Johnson in this cause of justice, 
and the bill was passed although prejudice 
and party strove against it. In this, as in 
many other instances, Johnson acted above 
party. 

Col. Johnson was a zealous advocate for 
the war of 1812, and after voting for it, went 
home and assisted his brother to raise a regi- 
ment of mounted volunteers : took a Lt. Co- 
lonel's commission, and marched to join gen- 
eral Harrison, and was foremost in ihe battle 
of Thames river. To this regiment command- 
ed by his brother and himself, then divided in 
the fight, much of the glory of that victory is 
due. He took his course against the Indians, 
and it is said that in this conflict he shol the cel- 
ebrated chief. Brigadier General Tecumseh, 
the most renowned savage since the days of 

King Philip. 

His own account of the deed is plain and 
modest. The Indian shot at him, and wounded 
him in the arm, when Col. Johnson fired his 
horse-pistol at him within six ^r eight yards 
and brought him to the dust. Johnson was 



JOHNSON. 55 

then ignorant of his rank, but at once surmis- 
ed it from the instant retreat of the whole bo- 
dy of Indians, and the terrible howl that ac, 
companied it. They who deny that this sa- 
vage was the fierce Tecumseh never refused 
to Johnson the palm of gallantry and suc- 
cess in battle. Johnson is a plain unaffected 
man, a warm and persevering friend, a strong 
partizan, and both friends and enemies know 
where to find him. He has not a particle of 
hypocrisy in his nature ; he speaks of men 
in, or out of office, with great freedom ; and 
poising himself at all times on his own mag- 
nimity never becomes the slave of any body, 
or set of men. He is honest, fluent and open 
in debate, and speaks right on, what he does 
think, whether it be politic or otherwise for 
party ; though he has very good party tact, 
having been nurtured in it. There is noth- 
ing in his speeches either remarkable for elo- 
quence or learning ; but abundance of direct- 
ness and honesty. Every body is pleased with 
the sentiments of the man, if they do not think 
him a first rate orator ; it must however be 
acknowledged that there are those who think 
him remarkably eloquent. Something of his 
popularity arises from his having been a con- 
slant advocate for the abolition of imprison- 
ment for debt. In season, and out of season 



56 JOHNSON. 

he has never deserted his cause ; but has 
gone on to call the attention of the philoso- 
phic and wise to the sulTerings of the unfortu- 
nate debtors throughout the country. 

Col. Johnson is an invalid from the wounds 
he received in the battles in which he was en- 
gaged, and looks pale in his seat in the Senate 
or House, and is seldom seen at the convivial 
board or the evening party. He is careful of 
his health ; but notwithstanding the feeble state 
of it, he manages to get through a great mass 
of business in the course of the day. The 
western members have an onerous correspon- 
dence with their constituents. It is any thing 
but a sinecure to be a Member of Congress 
from the other side of the Allegany. Col. 
Johnson is a popular man, and has many 
friends in various parts of the Union, who 
speak of him as Vice President of the United 
States for the next election. With politics I 
have nothing to do ; there are a great many 
politicians and philanthropists who would be 
gratified to see him elevated to the second 
office of the nation. 



I.BTTER Vm. 



Washington Jan 1830, 
Dear Sis, 

Mr. D wight is from the mountains of > 
Massachusetts. The pure skies of Berkshire ' 
have given his person an athletic frame, but his 
poHshed manner and city air mark him as 
a well bred man. He is in Washington a 
fashionable man, not of the Brummel school * 
of affectation and pretension, but of that easy 
dignified cast that shows the man of mind as 
well as of manners. If he moves down the 
dance with grace, his powers are not confined 
to the ball room, for the Belle who has been 
his partner there, the next day hears him as 
she listens from the gallery of the house of 
representativeSj ^mingling in the debate ; and 
in a sweet sonorous, biht manly voice, support- 
ing or defending his side of the question in an 
argument at once lucid and powerful. If he 
were assiduously to cultivate eloquence, he 
would be second to none in the country, for 
he has every physical and mental capacity 
6* 



58 . D WIGHT. 

for a great speaker. When any high respon- 
sibility is upon him he is powerful in debate. 
Mr. Dwight is a popular man in the House, 
for he is affable to all, and yields as far as ne- 
cessary for courtesy to every one, but never 
gives up a jot of principle. His independence 
in his course of debating and voting is as great 
and as completely maintained, as that of the 
roughest member who makes a declaration 
of his independence at every paragraph of 
his speech. There is no small degree of 
tact necessary in understanding the temper of 
a deliberate assembly, and this he has equal to 
any member of congress. He has been long 
enough there to fathom all the depths of par- 
ty policy, which after all has no witchcraft 
in it, to use his knowledge to advantage. Mr» 
Dwight does better in a complicated, than in 
a familiar question : as a strong man appears 
best when he has weight to carry to swell his 
muscles. He is yet young and will probably 
serve his country for many years, and were I 
his particular friend I would whisper in his 
ear, ^^ omnia vincit labor,^^ which is the true 
motto for a man of talents. 

The present Attorney General John Me 
Pherson Berrien is from Georgia but I under- 
stand that he is a native of Philadelphia. He 



BERRIEN. 59 

is a most eloquent speaker. In the senate he 
was a model for chaste, free, beautiful elocu- 
tion. He seemed to be the only man that 
Webster softened his voice to, when he turn- 
ed from his seat to address him. There is not 
the slightest dash in his manner ; it is as grave 
as it is pleasant. His views are clear, and he 
meets the subject manfully. In his arguments 
there is no demagogical praises of his constitu- 
ents, no tirade of abuse against his opponents, 
or of the section of country from whence they 
came. He is said to have been a good judge 
on the bench, and an excellent lawyer at the 
bar, and surely he was a host for his party in 
the Senate. He is now an Attorney General, 
and a cabinet councillor as well as counsel 
for the cabinet. The public of all parties have 
great confidence in him, and he stands fair 
for higher promotion. It is so seldom that 
we hear in Congress a classical style of speak- 
ing, that a man who has any regard for the ad- 
vancement of taste, admires such a speaker. 
He is said to be a lover of literature, and it is 
to be hoped that in his high office, he will ad- 
vise the President to recommend its protec- 
tion and encouragement. The President and 
heads of departments can do much for litera- 
ture and science, if they feel disposed to do it. 
The records of the nation are not yet thor- 



60 M'DUFFIE. 

oughly examined. It is time the work waa 
done. The present is the hour to begin, and 
the zeal of the future may atone for the apathy 
of the past. It is a solemn truth that the Uni- 
ted States do not support a single literary 
man ; as such, the nearest to it is the librarian 
of Congress and he is obliged to be a mere 
shelf and catalogue man, whatever may be 
his acquirements. 

Mr. M'Duffie who has figured in 
congress, for several years past from South 
Carolina is an eleve of Mr. Calhoun. He is a 
fiery speaker ? full of gesture, and one would 
think to see him, when speaking, and if out 
of distinct hearing, that he was wrought up to 
a frenzy, such is the violence of his manner. 
Mr. M'Duffie is unquestionably a man of 
talents ; but like most men of talents whose 
early education was defective, he mistakes 
his own thoughts and opinions for original 
thoughts, because he is not sufficiently ac- 
quainted with the thoughts and opinions of 
those who have gone before him, and prides 
himself upon being the author of axioms that 
were promulgated ages before he was born. 
Mr. M'Duffie has been prominently brought 
before the public, and has been able to sup- 
port a high character, for high intellect even in 



DAVIS. 61 

his errors. His late reports on several sub- 
jects prove that he is industrious and, that he 
spares no pains in his researches ; and all be- 
lieve that when time has taken off the fiery- 
edge of his spirits, that he will be a still more 
conspicuous statesman than he now is, for un- 
til lately he tore his passion to the very rags ; 
when the subject might have been discussed 
in the quietness of a quaker meeting. 

Mr. Davis of Massachusetts is a fair speci- 
men of the talent, gravity and solidity of the 
New-England people. He thinks correctly 
and talks well ; not ea,sily moved to resent- 
ment or worked up to passion ; his^ speeches 
are one unbroken chain of argument ; his 
language is plain but forcible ; his manner 
calm, even, and manly ; his voice is clear and 
strong, and precisely such a one as gains at- 
tention and secures it. He is always so self- 
poised that no one can shake him from his 
purpose ; so well informed that he is never 
put down by any detection of a mistake in 
what he states for facts ; so just to others that 
no one can complain that he misrepresents 
them, and he understands his subjects and his 
rights so well, that he is never called to order ; 
without assuming to direct, he often leads the 
debate, for the productions of an honest and 



62 DAVIS. 

powerful mind, have their effects on friends 
and opponents. His speeches are listened 
to and read for the information they contain, 
and they never offend taste by any extrava- 
gance of diction or inference, and some of his 
speeches are models of strength, symplicity 
and good English. 



XiSTTER IZ. 



Washington^ -, 1830, 

Dear Sir, 

The rapid growth of this country has been 
the wonder of the world ; but the causes of this 
growth have been overlooked or misunderstood. 
It has vaguely been attributed to their freedom ; 
yet the aborigines were freer than they have 
been ; and what did they do for the advancement 
of national prosperity? The secretof their growth 
has been the development of their civil institu- 
tions ; the seeds of which they brought from 
their native land. They have grown up without 
fetters. The very independence of this people 
was a living principle in them, when they first 
reached these inhospitable shores ; and in the 
fulness of time it burst into a flame. In all their 
reasonings they united the government of man 
with the government of God, and insisted that 
the ruler over men should kejust, ruling in the fear 
of God. The history of the colonies is full of 
their wise sayings and doings, but I have not 
time to draw your attention to any portion of it j 



64 THE PRESIDENTS. 

at this moment my remarks will be principally 
confined to the current events, and to living 
men ; but occasionally shall take a limited re- 
trospection. It has often been remarked that 
elected rulers have not been as good as heredi- 
tary ones ; and the history oF Great Britain is 
quoted as proving it. That the house of Lords 
have been, and still are, a highly honourable 
body, no one will deny ; and that it contains 
many true patriots is very certain ; but I should 
doubt very much whether, at any time, it con- 
tained so much practical talent, and mental ac- 
tivity, as the house of Commons. The whole 
of the rulers in the United States are virtually 
elected directly by the people, or selected by 
those they have elected for that purpose. The 
seven Presidents that have ruled over the Uni- 
ted States since 1789, is a proof that a man must 
have some rare qualifications to induce the great 
mass of the people to give their votes for him. 
He must have some strong hold of their affec- 
tions for services rendered, or have given proofs 
of powers from which great services may here- 
after be expected, who ventures to think of being 
President of the United States. 

Those who have held this office have been 
men of distinction. The first can never be 
equalled, because he lived in an age that can 
never return ; and circumstances gave hini op- 



THE PRESIDENTS. 65 

portunities for exertions that no man ever had 
before him, or can have after him. He was 
raised up for the times. He was a warrior of 
that peculiar cast that such a struggle demanded. 
He inspired his followers with confidence in his 
capacity and courage, and the nation with the 
belief that he was born for their deliverer. His 
wisdom as a chief macristrate of the United 
States was as conspicuous as his military tal- 
ents. He was advised by the speech of the trusty y 
but influenced by no man's opinions without 
sufficient reasons were adduced to support them. 
The shocks of party never moved him ; he was 
as quiet in the midet of the denunciations of de- 
magogues and the startling prophecies of the 
wily, as if all had been peace and sunshine. 
He contemplated with great care, and acted 
with unequalled decision. He read men with 
great sagacity, and selected his officers for their 
talents and probity. He Vt^as seldom wrons: in 
his judgment. He may have committed errors, 
but never did any foolish acts. He was truly 
the father of his country. 

The second President, Mr. Adams, was a 
true patriot and a high spirited man. He en- 
tered on his duties with more of the experience 
of a statesman than his predecessor had done, 
but was wanting in the prudence of that great 
man. He was cast, indeed, on evil times, and 
was easily chafed by untoward circumstances. 
7 



66 THE PRESIDENTS. 

There had begun to be less patriotism and more 
management among politicians than when the 
government was first organized. Party spirit 
had increased, and entered more into the pro- 
ceedings of Congress than in the administration 
of Washington ; party spirit raged with violence 
every where ; the hydra heads of the French 
revolution were reared in every quarter of the 
country ; and the fiendish spirit of anarchy was 
in them. The political atmosphere was poison, 
ed, and. like the mother of mankind, many of the 
honest were seduced and overcome by that sub- 
tlety which the serpent once possessed, and 
which has since been so hateful to mankind. 
Mr. Adams breasted the storm with great ener- 
gy ; and if not always v/ith judgment, yet al- 
ways with sincerity and capacity. He never 
cowered at opposition, nor shrunk from respon- 
sibility. One of the evils of his nature was that 
he had not enough of plausibility to qualify and 
soften his rigid determinations. He persisted 
in forming a navy against all opposition, and the 
result has proved his foresight. In m.ost instan- 
ces he put good men into high places, and ne- 
ver tolerated a feeble or bad man because he 
was with him in politics. Times have changed : 
and those who were once his enemies, have be- 
come his friends. 

He returned to private life after administering 
the government one term, and lived many years 



THE PRESIDENTS. 67 

as a sage whom all men, of all parties, sought to 
learn the history of past events and to hear him 
discourse on matters of government. His space 
in history will be an enviable one. 

The successor of Mr. Adams was quite differ- 
ent from him in his mental organization and 
political views. He had drank deeply of the 
new school of philosophy, made conspicuous by 
Mandeville, Bollingbroke, and their successors, 
on both sides the Alps. It was studied in Italy 
and France, had reached Germany, and swept 
over the Netherlands. It had in it many good 
points ; it inculcated the broad doctrines of 
equality in civil rights, and wared with the hie- 
rarchies every where. The theories formed in 
this school were beautiful and splendid, and have 
in part been realized by the present age. The 
predecessors of Mr. Jefferson had acted upon 
the maxim. Adhere to that which has been found 
to he good and practical, and he cautious of the un- 
tried and theoretical ; his, to venture on the untried, 
if it promised more happiness to mankind, fearless 
of the consequences. They distrusted human 
nature, he reposed implicit confidence in it. 
Perhaps the change at this time in the parties 
was fortunate for the nation ; it checked the 
vaulting ambition of many, and prostrated the 
pride of some who were beginning to think that 
they were made to rule. Some began to talk 
of family connexions and distinctions, who have 



68 THE PRESIDENTS. 

now passed away, and are forgotten ; and who, 
from a momentary political or pecuniary eleva- 
tion, began to think that some way might be de- 
vised to give permanency to their importance by 
securities to succession. The policy of Jeffer- 
son and his party sunk all these visions in night, 
and broke down all the hopes of the aristocracy 
of the nation. The chan";e that followed was 
not without its evils. New men arose, and ma- 
ny of them, the creatures of circumstances, were 
destitute of political wisdom or true patriotism ; 
and not a few who assisted in building up the 
republic, were not allowed to assist in adminis- 
tering the government. The navy was reduced, 
the vessels of war sold off^ the army not thought 
much of, and the dreams of perpetual peace in- 
dulged. This did not last long, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son found that it would not answer, in the present 
state of mankind, to heat swords into j)lovghshareSy 
and spears into j^runing hooJcs too soon. He re- 
vived some of the doctrines he intended to ex- 
plode, and consented to think it was better to 
whip insolent foes, than to buy their good will at 
too dear a rate. Public opinion is always fluc- 
tuating, but never so far out of the v/ay as closet 
reasoners believe, particularly when the public 
are as enlightened as this. 

Mr. Jefferson was communicative, free and 
generous in his disposition, and fascinating in his 
manners. He practiced the republican sympli- 



THE rHESlDENTS. 09 

city he taught, and in a most extraordinary de- 
gree took the people along with him, and re- 
tained his office, and the place he held in their 
affection, during the eight years of services. 
Though historians will differ greatly upon the 
effort his course and character had on the na- 
tional growth and prosperity, yet all will agree 
that the man was learned and philosophical, and 
that while he pursued a course of his own, he 
had the power of stamping his own impressions 
upon minds beyond any statesmen of the age in 
which he lived ; that he was not avaricious may 
be known by the poverty in which he died. 

It is curious to observe how the fate of an age 
is in some measure decided by a trivial matter. 
By a provision in the constitution of the United 
States, which has since been altered, the Presi- 
dent and Vice President were voted for, without 
discriminating between them, or directing who 
should hold the first or second office. This was 
left to depend upon the votes. The highest 
number from the Electoral Colleges was conside- 
red as having been given for the President. Mr. 
Jefferson and Mr. Burr had an equal number of 
votes, and therefore, there was no choice by the 
people. In the House of representatives the 
states were for a long time equally divided. For 
a while it was thought Mr. Burr would have 
been elected to fill the office of President. The 
difference between the men was great. Aaron 
7* 



70 THE PRESIDENTS. 

Burr had in him the elements of a great soi- 
dier and a profound Statesman. He was six- 
teen years the junior of his opponent, full of ac- 
tivity and ambition ; and that ambition that looks 
beyond the hour. He had been a soldier of the 
revolution, was v/ith Arnold in his expedition to 
Canada by way ot^'the Kennebeck. He had 
left the halls of learning at the age of nineteen 
to join this hazardous enterprize ; had been se- 
lected by Arnold to traverse the wilderness alone 
to communicate with Montgomery who had push- 
ed his way by the lakes. For this adventure he 
was made the aid of Montgomery, and was at 
his side when the lamented warrior fell. He 
rose still higher in the army during the course of 
the war, and had left his name high on the list 
of those brave and gallant youths who had gi- 
ven a spirit of chivalry to the American army. 
When the revolutionary conflict was over, he en- 
tered professional life, and at once took a deci- 
ded part ; was soon known as a most promising 
trian. His legal attainments were great ; and as 
an advocate he had no superior. Bland, smooth 
and eloquent, he guided the populace ; saga- 
cious, penetrating, insinuating, and learned, he 
influenced those in high places in the courts, or 
deliberate assemblies. He was equal to any task, 
for he had a constitution that knew no fatigue, 
and a spirit of perseverance that nothing could 
break down. His tongue was never silent from 



THE PRESIDENTS. 71 

any dread of dignity or power, and his heart ne- 
ver palpitated at the presence of man. Open, 
bold, and daring, -he sought political distinction, 
and was determined to have it. If such a man, 
in the prime of manhood, for he had only reach, 
ed his forty-fifth year, could have come to the 
Presidency when the world was in such confu- 
sion, he would have appealed to their pride, and 
millions would have responded to his voice ; he 
would have pointed out a new path to glory, and 
myriads would have rushed to take it. The timid 
and philosophical even now, shudder to think 
what he might have done, and the adventrous 
and ambitious on the wane of life rave at what 
was lost in so great a man. The judicious 
however feel assured that the destinies of na- 
tions are in the hands of God, and without deci- 
ding any thing upon this subject, pursuade them» 
selves that all has been for the best. 

Mr. Madison followed Mr, Jefferson. The 
country was then so exhausted and worn out by 
embargoes and non-intercourses, that Mr. Mad- 
ison found the people in a very restless state. 
To pursue the system that had been tried and 
found totally inefficacious, would have been idle, 
and worse than idle ; it would have proved mis- 
chievous. Mr. Madison delayed, and reasoned, 
and forbore, until he found the west would not 
forbear any longer, when in 1812 he recom- 



72 THE PRESIDENTS. 

mended a declaration of war, which was instantly 
declared by an act of Congress, and which, on 
the same day, received his signature. The Pre- 
sident was placed in a perilous situation ; for 
the country was unprepared for war. The sup- 
ply of the munitions of war was scanty, the 
treasury nearly empty, but few soldiers in the 
army, and no experienced commander at call. 
Those brave men of the revolution had not kept 
up with the rapid advancement of military tac- 
tics, and there v/ere few young men who had 
made military science a study. The navy was 
small and not fully manned, and the enemy were 
on our coast. This was a trying situation for 
the President. The war went on, Mr. Madi- 
son did every thing he could, but the war ma- 
chinery was in bad order. Sometimes the na- 
tion was grieved by the loss of an army, and 
now cheered by a splendid victory. No small 
portion of the wealth and talent of the country 
were opposed to the war, and were reluctant 
to support it. To brace up under all the evils 
Mr. Madison had to contend with, required the 
philosophy of a great mind. He struggled 
through all ; met all the dishonour with com- 
posure ; received all the news of success with- 
out any of the unnerving effects of joy ; in fact, 
he made the best of his situation ; and found 
himself, at the close of the conflict, as popular 
as he was at the commencement of it. Mr. 



THE PRESIDENTS. 73 

Madison was one of the framers of the constitu- 
tion of the United States, and had more to do in 
its formation in convention, and of the support 
of it in his native state, than any other man. His 
views of this great instrument have been pro- 
found and consistent in every stage of the at- 
tack and defence upon it, in, and out of Con- 
gress. He has never flinched from defending 
his first views of its powers, and of the inten- 
tions which were incorporated with it, at its 
birth. He is now old, and on the confines of 
eternity; but his last effort, in the Virginia 
Convention, for constitutional liberty, proved 
that the faculties of a well regulated mind will 
last long. Honesty of intention preserves an 
accuracy of memory and a consistency of con- 
duct. 

Mr. MuNEOE succeeded Mr. Madison. He 
came into power in quiet times ; the first term 
with little opposition ; the second term with 
none. The country recovered rapidly from the 
exhaustion of war ; party spirit had, in a good 
degree, lost its rancour ; the whole community 
were busy in retrieving lost time ; and the 
President had no great difficulties to contend 
with. To appease those hungry for office was 
the most trying evil he had to encounter. To 
his honour be it said, that in his administra- 
tion, and by his recommendation, the pension 



74 THE PRESIDENTS. 

law was passed, giving a crust of bread and a 
pitcher of water to the war-worn soldier, who 
should have been stayed wilJi faggons and com- 
forted with apples, from the hands of a grateful 
people, but who had been left to hunger and 
thirst by the way-side. 

John Quincy Adams was successor to Mr. 
Munroe ; he had been Secretary of State during 
Mr. Munroe's administration. There was no 
choice by the electoral colleges, and the states 
in the House of Representatives decided the 
question bftween him and General Jackson, 
who were the two highest candidates. Jackson 
had the highest number of electoral votes, and 
his disappointed supporters were determined to 
run him for the next term, and instantly took 
measures for this purpose. The electioneering 
campaign began earlier than it was ever known 
to have commenced before, and was conducted 
with great bitterness. Mr. Adams administered 
the government with the most scrupulous integ- 
rity. His policy was to keep things as they 
were. He made no changes by removing one 
and bringing in another ; and when vacancies 
occurred, he was quite as likely to fill them up 
with opponents as friends. Every one granted 
to Mr. Adams first rate talents ; and all, who 
were capable of judging, acknowledged him to 
be the most thorough-bred scholar and diplomat- 



THE PRESIDENTS. 75 

ist of the country. He was patient of labour, 
indefatigable in his researches, apt in acquiring 
and ready in using all useful knowledge. He 
had the experience of a lawyer, a legislator, and 
of a minister at different courts ; and last of all 
as a secretary and cabinet councillor of the Pre- 
sident of the United States. Ancient and mo- 
dern languages were familiar to him, and he 
required no interpreter in his intercourse with 
foreign embassadors. No man, however great 
his patriotism or his talents, had ever filled the 
presidential chair with such rich and varied ac- 
quirements as Mr. Adams ; and one at a dis- 
tance would have supposed that he would have 
been the most popular President this country 
ever had. It was not so. He had broke friend- 
ship with his old federal friends by voting for 
the embargo, and by taking a course for him- 
self; and had been, in a manner, estranged 
from them for the space of eighteen years. 
They came to his support because they knew 
his ability to serve the nation, and they saw his 
scrupulous honesty in office. They had, how- 
ever, deep and terrible ranklings in their bo- 
soms at the same instant they dropt their votes 
into the ballot box for his election ; for he had 
openly, as they said, made the insanity of a few 
pass for a disease among the many. He receiv- 
ed his information of what they were saying and 
doing from prejudiced sources ; and he was not 



76 I'HE PRESIDENTS. 

sufficiently acquainted with his own people and 
kindred to judge of them correctly; for he had 
not lived with them much. He forgot, that, if, 
in the plenitude of freedom, now and then, one 
talked daggers, there was a redeeming spirit in 
the great mass of the people that would not suf- 
fer Ihem to be used. This was not all ; the 
party he had served so heartily were not satis- 
fied with one who would administer the govern- 
ment without being influenced by party ; avow- 
ing openly that a party administration was the 
true genius of a republican government ; and 
whether the axiom be right or wronor, it is one 
that will be acted upon hereafter ; and all politi- 
cians will agree that it is a better course than to 
purchase enemies to make them friends. 

Mr. Adams was surrounded by men who had 
no sympathy for one another ; they were paired, 
not matched : fortuitious eircumstances brought 
them together, but there was no real congeniali- 
ty among them. Although a republican of pri- 
mitive simplicity, Mr. Adams had no quahfica- 
tion for meeting every-day men with those little 
courtesies which secures their affections. Jeru- 
salem might have been burnt a thousand times 
before he would have sat at the gate to steal 
away the hearts of the people. But when he 
was met directly, and enquired of directly, no 
man ever spoke more freely, or more honestly. 
He had no disguise about him ; he discovered 



THE PRESIDENTS. 77 

si'iore singleness of heart, and disinterestedness of 
purpose, than any man I ever knew in a politi- 
cal station. He has retired from office in the 
fulness of intellectual vigour, with sufficient 
means for an elegant independence for life. He 
will bring forward no claims for unrequited ser- 
vices, nor proffer any appeal to his country's 
generosity for assistance and support. For the 
city of Washington he has done more than any 
of his predecessors ever did ; for general libe- 
rality he is behind no one. The true otium cum 
dignitate is his, and the belief is, that his coun- 
try's history is to be the object of his future la- 
bours. His descendants will have a rich inhe- 
ritance in his fame ; for his little errors will be 
buried with him, and his great merits perpetu- 
ated. 

The present incumbent of the presidential 
chair, GeneralJACKsoN, is indeed a remarkable 
man. He began life in the humblest walks, and 
had no advantages of early education ; but such 
was his energy of character, that he soon at- 
tracted notice. The West was new, and he grew 
up with the society around him, and early took 
a leading part. He had been engaged in politi- 
cal life, acted for a while in a judicial charac- 
ter, and afterward become a politician again. 
He was a soldier from a child, and attracted at- 
tention from his high and heroic qualities in the 
8 



78 THE PRESIDP^NTS. 

discharge of his duties. The fighting on the 
frontiers has been more calculated to make 
daring, prompt, and chivalrous men, than regu- 
lar figliting in large armies ; for in these Indian 
hunts every individual has an opportunity of 
displaying his prowess, while in a large and re- 
gular army, individuals must be restrained by 
the great mass, and each has, in a good mea- 
sure, to share with them in good or evil report. 
Men grov/ hardy and adventurous who have to 
keep arms in their hands for defence. General 
Jackson was a terror to the Indians from the 
Ohio to New-Orleans, and westward to the 
rocky mountains. He annihilated the Semi- 
noles, and terrified all those friendly to them. 
When the war broke out, in 1812, General 
Jackson was a Major General in the militia of 
Tennessee ; and as soon as it was found that 
Great Britain would probably attack New-Or- 
leans, he was sent to the relief of that place. 

He had many difiiculties to encounter in or- 
ganizinghis forces. They came, many of them, 
from more than a thousand miles up the river, 
without arms, and depended on finding them at 
New-Grl-eans ; but government had been remiss 
in sending them. When General Jackson heard 
that the British forces had made good their 
landing, he marched out and met them, that same 
night, as they were at supper. The conflict 
was a very sharp one, and succeeded in putting 



THE PRESIDENTS. 79 

the British General on his guard ; and in fact, 
checked the march of his army from the twenty- 
third of December to the eighth of January, 
By this time the American army was prepared 
for them. On that day General Jackson fought 
them, and obtained a signal victory. Call it 
what you please, chance or a miracle, it was a 
wondrous fight, and the gratitude of the Ameri- 
can nation was unbounded. It v/as of incalcu- 
lable service to his country in general, and to 
that part of it more especially. It will not be 
denied that he is a lover of military discipline, 
and probably has sometimes carried his love of 
martial law too far. It was too critical a mo- 
ment to carry a statute book in one's pocket, or 
to square every march by the doctrines of 
trespass quare clausum f regit. lie had a people 
to save, and it was not in his nature to do it 
gently. There was something in the boldness 
of the veteran soldier that v/as attractive to 
most men, and particularly to the young. The 
suggestions of those who preferred a civilian to 
a soldier were lost in the huzzas of those who 
panted for military distinction ; nad at every 
pause and return of the shout he gained popu- 
larity. In most states the change was rapid, 
and he came into office by a large majority. If 
he was not as perfect and capable a man as his 
friends represented him to be, he was a much 
better man than his enemies described him to- 



80 THE PRESIDENTS, 

be. The fire of his temper had become s 
flame less wild than when he was earning his 
military laurels. The hatchet had been buried 
and the wam})Lira exchanged, and most of his 
enmities were gone. He has now administered 
the government for nearly a year, and has 
shown nothing of a disposition to act the milita- 
ry chieftain. No gens d' arms guard his door, 
!io halberdiers his person. He has never as 
yet amused the good citizens of Washington with 
a military execution, himself preceded by laurel- 
ed lictors with their fasces and axes, and with 
the Masteii of the Horse at his heels. If the 
apprehensions of those who foretold such things 
were honest, they are happily disappointed. If 
they mistook not the man, as I believe they did, 
they certainly misunderstood the genius of the 
people. They forgot the omnipotence of public 
opinion in a great and a free country. Every 
thing political must be shaped by it, every thing 
exist by it. Public opinion may be as volatile 
as the air around us, but nevertheless as vital to 
i-epublican institutions as that is to animal life. 
Mind in this country is operating upon mind, 
and opinion struggling with opinion for light and 
knowledge. Every faculty of man is in a state 
of improvement. Intelligence meets with, and 
combats ignorance, and ignorance becomes illu- 
mined by the conflict, infidelity is overcome by 
faith, and truth elicited by error. In such a 



THE PRESIDENTS. 81 

state, while every man is testing his own pow- 
ers, and examining the rights and capacities of 
others, and attempting to place all things on the 
basis of philanthropy and justice, although there 
may be a good share of evil abroad, yet the 
dread of the talents, fame or influence of any 
one man, is not one of these evils. 

If military ambition once burned in the breast 
of General Jackson, it should be recollected that 
he has reached that period of life, when the 
flame would begin to diminish. He is more 
than double the age of Alexander when he died, 
and much older than Csesar when he fell. Afje 
always holds on what it has gained, but seldom 
desires to make exertions for new honours, par- 
ticularly military ones. I have entered into 
this subject more particularly, not that I ever 
thought he would give the nation a military cast 
of character, any more than a civilian, but be- 
cause the politicians in England, and in fact in 
all Europe, affected to believe that this nation 
was rapidly passing to a military despotism, be- 
cause they selected General Jackson for their 
President, and argued from it the dow niai of the 
liberties of the country, citing ancient instances 
of the insatiable appetite of military chieftains. 
There is no parallel between the cases — there is 
no force in the argument. 



8* 



Washington, ~ -, IBSO, 

Bear Sir^ 

We will now turn, for a moment, from 
Ihe subject of man, to contemplate the growth 
of a city. Each subject has its singularities, 
and each affords instruction. 

The Potomac had been considered the centre 
of the British Provinces in North America long 
before the organization of a Federal government 
was ever thought of by the North or the South- 
A few of the wise men of Virginia had, in their 
political forecasts, drawn upon their imagina- 
tions so far as to think it within the limits of 
conjecture, that through the Potomac the great 
western lakes would find a highway to the 
ocean, and the immense interior bordering on 
them would be opened to the advantages of com- 
merce with foreign nations. When, or how^ 
this was to be brought about, was not distinctly 
understood. The subject was one of those great 
matters of feeling and reasoning commingled, 
that are often the precursors of investigation and 
effort, and for many years remain as impress 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 83 

sions and presentiments, before the event gives 
to vague conjecture the character of prophecy 
or foreknowledge. These opinions were gain- 
ing ground in Virginia from age to age, and 
fastened themselves on the mind of Washington, 
from his earliest years ; and so deep, that when 
his reputation had reached the acme of human 
glory, he was willing to risk some portion of his 
fame in making every exertion to direct his 
countrymen to this great national object, con- 
nected with the government of the United States 
and the future w^elfare of his country ; but no 
place was now precisely designated. 

In March, 1791, the President of the United 
States was authorised to appoint commissioners 
to lay out this city, and prepare suitable build- 
ings for the government before the year 1800. 
By an act of May, 1796, the commissioners 
were authorised to borrow money for the ad- 
vancement of the buildings, and to pledge the 
lots that had been given to the United States, as 
well as the faith of the government, to refund 
the loan. In 1798 there was an act passed, sup- 
plementary to the aforesaid, to hasten the pro- 
gress of the public improvements. So far were 
the public buildings finished, that, in April, 1800, 
an act was passed authorising the President to 
remove, with all the departments, from Phila- 
delphia to the Federal City, which had been 
previously named the City of Washington, in 



84 CITY OF WASIHNGTON. 

honour of the President ; and in pursuance of 
this act the government was removed and com- 
menced operations in the city of Washington the 
first day of December, 1800. It cannot be deni- 
ed but that the character, wishes and influence of 
Washington, had no small share in fixing the 
seat of government. Like all other of his acts 
it has proved to have been dictated by wisdom, 
justice, and forecast ; for the site is one of the 
finest in the world for a city. From the hill on 
which stands the capitol, the most noble view 
presents itself to the eye of the beholder that 
the imagination could paint. From the north, 
round to the south, a circular line of high 
grounds is seen, making within them the interior 
of an immense amphitheatre ; which, it is said, 
resembles the appearance of Rome from some 
of the elevations in or near the Eternal City. The 
east view is extensive, but not bounded by high 
lands ; The horizon sinks with the power of vi- 
sion. On the south, the broad and peaceful 
Potomac is seen for many miles, extending to 
Alexandria, and even to Mount Vernon. The 
whole panorama is bold, magnificent, pictur- 
esque, and yet soft and beautiful ; it only re- 
quires the moral consecration of long past 
events, the massy piles of ancient grandeur, the 
deep and solemn recollections of the mighty 
dead, to make the impression, at this view from 
the capitol, such as crowds on the mind when 



CITY OF WASHINGTON, 85 

one views the Vatican or domes of St. Peter. It 
was laid out on a noble plan, but it will require 
the lapse of half a century to fully developo all 
its beauties. The eye of practical utility is long 
in discovering the harmonious proportions that 
philosphical forecast designs for the completion 
of distant ages. The colossal figures of Praxi- 
telles were the subject of derision among minor 
artists, who did not foresee the elevation for 
which they were made ; but when placed in the 
lofty niches of the temple, his master designs 
found their exact situations, and breathed harmo- 
ny and sweetness on every beholder. The city 
of Washington struggled with every difficulty in 
its commencement. The great founder did not 
live to see it the seat of government ; he died a 
year before the consummation of his wishes. 

We had at the time of the beginning but few 
native artists to assist him, and the foreigners he 
employed had many preconceived opinions at 
war with his great plans. Economy was the 
order of the day, and it was hard to make frugal 
statesmen understand, that judicious expendi- 
ture, on a broad scale, would, in the end, be the 
most prudent course. They considered the ne- 
cessities of a session ; Jie, the requisitions of 
ages. The country w^as straitened in her 
finances, and the great mass of the legislature 
mistook the expansion of republican simplicity 
and grandeur in building a city, for regal munifs- 



86 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

cence and aristocratic calculations ; and of course 
every broad plan was narrowed down, and every 
detail cramped by the wants of the treasury. 
Other causes transpired to increase these dif- 
ficulties. When the site of the Federal City 
was fixed upon, speculators from every quarter 
of this country, and also from abroad, flocked 
in, to share in the chances of gain. Instead of 
forwarding the enterprise, they did much to re- 
tard it, by giving the lands a fictitious value, 
and by keeping up nominal prices until there 
were no real ones. It was a fair subject of spec- 
ulation, but it was managed badly. The agri- 
culture of the surrounding country was not pre- 
pared to give a ready and an abundant supply 
to the calls of the newly congregated popula- 
tion, and the whole concern went sadly on, year 
after year : at this period the market for provi- 
sions was scanty, fluctuating, and often exorbi- 
tant ; and sometimes it was hardly possible to 
procure wholesome provisions, at any rate. 
The dwelling houses in general were small, and 
inconvenient ; and not only the citizens, but 
public functionaries, and political dignitaries, 
were crowded into narrow lodgings ; and amidst 
the most anxious struggles for appearances 
among the leaders of fashion, the nakedness of 
the land was often seen by the sojourners as 
well as felt by the inhabitants. The great mass 
of the population suffered in some way or other, 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. ^7 

and but few of the comforts of life, then, as well 
as at present, so fully enjoyed in the cities of the 
United States generally, were known in Wasli- 




mgton. 



In summer the streets were in a good measure 
deserted, and in winter all was bustle and con- 
fusion. The streets were M^ithout sidewalks or 
pavements, and in this naturally humid climate 
and soft looniy soil, the mud was frequently 
deep and troublesome. The greater part of the 
visiter's, and many of the members of Congress 
boarded in Georgetown. The English goods' 
shops were there also, and many of the best wine 
and grocery stores. These daily inconveniences 
were annoying to the members of Congress, and 
they were in ill-humour when any call for mo- 
ney was made for the city ; and it was evident 
that the dislike to Washington, as a permanent 
seat of government, was fast advancing to a de- 
termination to remove it. The goodly streets 
and comfortable rooms in the dwelling houses in 
Philadelphia were remembered, and nothing 
but reverence for the name of Washington kept 
those feelings from breaking out into acts of le- 
gislation. 

This was the state of things up to 1814, when 
the calamity which at first was supposed to have 
given a finishing stroke to all the hopes of the 
city fell upon it ; In August, of that year, it was 
taken by the British without much bloodshed. 



Q3 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

The troops brought to defend it were well 
enough, and might have been made good sol- 
diers, if there had been union, concert, and en- 
ergy among the leaders. Civil and military au- 
thority and influence were jumbled together, and 
confusion, defeat, and disgrace followed. The 
blame was shifted from one to the other, and has 
not as yet settled precisely any where ; but er- 
ror, and gToss error, must rest somewhere. 

The whole country was mortified at such an 
event, although it reflected no great honour on 
the enemy. The capitol, as far as it was finish- 
ed was burnt ; the President's house, the public 
ofHces, and the public property of the navy yard. 
The whole city resembled ' the skin of an im- 
tnolated victim ;' and every appeal to the sympa- 
thies and pride of the country was made. When 
Congress next assembled, after a few struggles 
for the removal of the seat of government, the 
most vigorous steps were taken to restore the 
city to tranquillity, and to repair the public loss- 
es. It being once settled that pride and jus- 
tice would not suffer the removal of the seat of 
government, private enterprise followed public 
spirit. The corporation of the city seemed to 
be animated with a new soul, and individuals, 
relieved from the fear of change, risked all they 
could command in real estate. Landed proper- 
ty arose in value, and hope, energy, and active 
business, took the place of despair, listlessness, 



CITY OF WASHINGTON, 39 

and, wasting, repining indolence. New streets 
were opened, dwelling houses and stores were 
then erected. The trade came to the city, the 
boarders left Georgetown and came to Washinor. 
ton, and a new face was put on every thing in 
the city ; churches were built, institutions of 
learning arose, and large, if not ample provision 
was made for other necessary improvements on 
the face of nature. This work has been going 
on ever since the close of the war ; but it must 
be pleasant to the citizens of Washington to re- 
flect, that when all things are taken into consi. 
deration, that they are not indebted to the gov. 
ernment, in equity, for one dollar for all their 
grants and favours ; but that, in truth, the gov- 
ernment is indebted to the city for more than 
a million of dollars, putting a fair value on the 
property now owned by the United States withi 
the city, which cost them nothing. Blessings 
are said to come in clusters ; for as soon as the 
city began to flourish, it became healthy. The 
low grounds were drained, and the fever and 
ague, once prevalent, are now rarely known 
among the evils of Washington ; and at present 
the city is decidedly the most healthy of any 
in the United States, or perhaps in the world. 
The water of Washington is of the best quality, 
and can be brought to every door in the greatest 
abundance, at a very moderate expense. This 
9 



[1 



90 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

was provided for in the charter given to the city 
under the administration of Mr. Jefferson. 

The schools in Washington are respectable 
and instriicters very well supported. The spirit 
of religious freedom is as manifest here, as in 
older cities. Toleration, in general, is a growth 
of long experience and sound information ; here 
intolerance had neither precedents or law. The 
restraints on the exercise of liberty are fewer 
here than in any other city known to civilized 
man ; and yet the morals of the people are good, 
and every year growing better. The whole 
population of the city have been misrepresen- 
ted as to manners, morals, habits and disposi- 
tions. No people are more kind, or more hos- 
pitable; or have better feelings than the Wash- 
ingtonians. The bland Marylander, the lofty 
Virginian, and intelligent, shrewd Eastern inha- 
bitant, coalesce, commingle, and amalgamate, 
until the virtues of all are seen united in the 
most. As they become less dependant on Con. 
gress, the more elevated is their standard of 
mind and morals. When they looked to the 
members of Congress as superior beings, who 
might annihilate the city by a vote, the very 
vices of the legislators were copied, and the ef- 
fect was bad. Taken as a whole, the members 
of Congress were not of the highest order for 
imitation. Men are seldom virtuous in bodies, in 
which, in most cases, but little individual respon- 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 91 

sibility is felt or acknowledged. The corpora- 
tion are assuming an energy of character wor- 
thy of freemen, and are looking at the true in- 
terests of the citv, and the citizens are unitino- 
their efforts for the prosperity of themselves 
and neighbours. The patronage of Congress, 
the attention of the corporation of the city, and 
the efforts of individuals are now beginnin.or to 
be seen and i^elt. In former years their exer- 
tions were not properly appreciated, because 
they could not be seen in their effects ; they 
v/ere actually laying the corner-stone deep in 
the mire and water, where it was difficult for the 
nicest observer to fairly calculate the value of 
means used to produce ends ; now all things are 
seen most fully ; and effects are in proportion to 
labours ; and whatever is done is visible in tiie 
improvements of the city. The city is indeed 
an emblem of our nation in its growth and cha- 
racter, if not at first, certainly in the later peri- 
ods. It was most assuredly afflicted in its com- 
mencement, had no great seasons of prosperity 
in its early day, and in the end, owed its glory 
and stability to the outrage done upon it. The 
streets are now provided with ample sidewalks ; 
new squares arc opened, the streets are gradua- 
ted, and put in a proper state to be ornamented 
with trees and fountains. The Ohio and Chesa- 
peake canal, which has been begun, and will be 
put in operation by the enterprise of individuals. 



92 CITY OF WASHIGTON. 

the spirit of the corporation and the liberality of 
Congress, is one day to be the pride, the conve- 
nience, and the source of prosperity to the city. 
The trade will increase, which will increase the 
number of inhabitants, and afford them many ad- 
vantages, by bringing fuel and provisions to the 
city, and reduce the prices of all the necessaries 
of life, to as lov/ a scale as that of the most fa- 
voured cities of the United States. The Wash- 
ington market, with a little alteration, might be 
made as good as any we know of. The glades 
of Virginia furnish beef, pork, and butter, of the 
best kinds ; and the immediate neighbourhood, 
with a little care and attention, would be suffi- 
cient, and more than sufficient, for all the de- 
mands of vegetables and poultry. The soil and 
climate are well suited for all the fruits of the 
temperate zone. Peaches, plumbs, apples, and 
almost every other fruit are, or may be raised, 
of the first order. Washington is the happiest 
region of flowers. A garden here might be 
made to yield something for the basket of Flora 
for nearly three quarters of the year. With a 
small expense a fountain might be made in eve- 
ry garden, to refresh the vegetation in the warm- 
est seasons of the year. After the most promi- 
nent sites for business are filled up in the city, a 
better taste will prevail in erecting domicils, and 
those dwellings a little removed from the bustle 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 93 

will not be complete or satisfactory without a 
garden of flowers. 

To pass from the dulce to the utile, there are 
line building materials in abundance, in or near 
the city, or can easily be brought to it. The 
city abounds in the best of clay ; and bricks can 
be furnished to any extent, at a iew weeks no- 
tice ; and fuel can easily be procured to burn 
the greatest number of kilns that maybe set up. 
Ornamental trees for the high way or malls 
would be of rapid growth, much more rapid, 
take the whole number and variety of ornamen- 
tal trees together, than that of any climate more 
southerly or northerly in this country. It is 
seldom that the winter is severe enough to in- 
jure them, and droughts in the summer are not 
common. Showers are frequent ; the clouds 
following along the Shenandoah and the Poto- 
mac, in the highlands, spread over the country 
where the Potomac assumes a broader surface, 
and gives a freshness to the vegetation alonp^ its 
banks. The soil is porous and quickly imbibes 
the rain, so that no stagnant waters are found 
to originate diseases in the hottest weather. 
There is none of that spungy, humid state of 
the atmosphere here, so common at the north 
in August, generally denominated dog-days. 
The heat of Washington is not greater at any 
season than at Boston or Montreal ; but is more 
oppressive by its long continuance, and the tri- 
9* 



94 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

fling change in the atmosphere from noon to 
midnight. This may be, and indeed is exhaust- 
ing ; but in this season there are but few preva- 
lent diseases ; and the deaths that happen are 
often among those who have not been the most 
prudent ; or whose constitutions have been bro- 
ken and decaying in previous years. Man is 
subject to the first great denunciation of his 
Maker every where, dust thou art and to dust 
slialt thou return ; but he is as much privileged 
here, as any where, to escape it as long as pos- 
sible. In fact, nature has done enough for the 
city to make it one of the most delightful abodes 
in the world ; art now must do her share. Cap- 
ital, industry and business are now only wanted 
to give interest, beauty, yea, more, splendour to 
all in and about Washington ; commerce is want- 
ed to obtain this capital and to secure prosperity 
to the city, but it can never be so great and 
all-absorbing as to endanger the welfare of the 
city by those fearful fluctuations that large com- 
mercial cities are liable to. None of those sud- 
den changes in the markets can eflfect the great 
mass of the citizens, when but a small part of 
them are engaged in commerce, nor is it so near 
the sea as to fear that its usual supplies can be 
cut off" by a war or blockade. The back coun- 
try is sufficient for all exigencies, and perma- 
nent requisitions for the main articles of life, and 
and it will have easy communication with the 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 



95 



eastern and southern cities by steam boats and 
rail roads. If a real and not a fictitious value 
is given to property in the City of Washington, 
it cannot fail to advance most rapidly. The 
general temperature of the climate, the certain- 
ty of wholesome supplies of provisions, the 
chances of good schools, which will be found 
here if they are not common now ; numerous 
and well organized associations, united to the 
easy access to genteel society, on those terms 
which cannot be common in other cities, will 
induce many respectable famihes, with but 
moderate means, to make this a place of resi- 
dence. It is a question, with many if this gol- 
den age will ever come ; but who can doubt it. 
Look at the changes of the last ten years, and 
say if these have in them no promising augury ? 
If the citizens do not abandon real for imagina- 
ry right ; if the congress of the United States 
do their duty, as we trust they will, the prosper- 
ity of the City of Washington is certain. Some 
of the citizens of the district of Columbia are 
anxious to be represented in congress ; but it 
would be a miserable policy to change the hold 
they have on the general goverment for legisla- 
tive protection, for the honour of having a single 
representative in congress. The government is 
growmg rich and the fostering hand of power 
will be, hereafter, extended more liberally to 
the district than it has been. 



96 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

With industry, enterprize, prudence, and har- 
mony the city of Washington may be made a 
place of trade, manufactures and learning. The 
trade will be very considerable when the canal 
.is opened and the surrounding country catches 
the spirit of the age. Manufactures will of 
course go pari passu with the demand of those 
articles that can be made here cheaper than 
elsewhere. In addition to the water power in 
the neighbourhood, fuel can be afibrded cheap, 
by way of the river and canal, either in wood 
or coal for steam engines. A well balanced 
business extending to all the common branches 
of industry might be carried on here for the 
prosperity of the city. Taste, and the arts must 
grow up where there is no sudden influx of 
wealth, no deep commercial speculation, whose 
success gives no settled plans for mental im- 
provement, and whose reverses damp the ardor 
and dry up the aliments of learning. Those 
cities whose income have been the most regular, 
not those which at seasons have been the most 
wealthy, have given the most encouragement to 
the arts. It is true the Medici, the great Flo- 
rentine merchants, were patrons of the arts ; but 
not from the success of any particular enter- 
prize, but from a settled plan to spend so much 
of their income as they could spare for this pur- 
pose, and they made as regular appropriations 
for letters and the arts as for household expen- 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 97 

ses. It is not with the excess of wealth that 
learning flourishes, but with the judicious use of 
it. Pericles ornamented his native Athens to 
the delight of his own, and to the wonder and 
admiration of succeeding ages, and yet his rev- 
enues were not large ; but who ever heard of the 
artists, or of the men of letters patronized by 
CroBsus. A national University to be establish- 
ed in this city, was contemplated by that great 
father of his country, Washington. His views 
were expanded and noble. The University was 
not only to be one in name, but in truth a place 
of letters and sciences, with the arts, both useful 
and ornamental in their train ; a place where all 
that is known should be taught. Such a Uni- 
versity, besides diffusing pure knowledge, would 
do much towards breaking down the prejudices 
that exist between the different sections of our 
country. Educated together the youths of the 
north, and the south, the east, and the west 
would scan each others merits in their early 
days, and iind out each others mental powers. 
Such an education would give them opportuni- 
ties of knowing each too, when they came into 
active life, and assist them to form accurate opin- 
ions of each others powers and capacities, and 
fitness for particular offices. Such a univer- 
sity would be a resort for men of taste and leis- 
ure, who with their families would come to at- 
tend the lectures of the professors of the unu 



98 CITY OF WASHINGTON. 

versity ; as none but distinguished men could 
hold these offices. 'In truth, whatever way we 
look into our country's welfare, or however bold 
and sagacious our reach may be, on close inspec- 
tion, we shall find that the mind of Washington 
had been there before us, arranged our antici- 
pations and marshalled all our array of thoughts, 
and he with equal clearness saw all the difficul- 
ties we had to encounter, and the virtues it would 
require to overcome them. He prayed the na- 
tion might possess them ; he believed it did, or 
would, so that his beloved republic would es- 
cape the fate of all former republics, whose his- 
tories are satires on the stability of governments 
and the virtue of the human race. 

We are now, in fact, the only republic on 
earth ; those so called in South America, and 
hailed with such enthusiasm by the lovers of lib- 
erty, are at present only mock-suns on the clouds 
formed by our rising brightness. The temples 
of South American liberty have not as yet been 
purified from the stains of the idols ;^hich inha- 
bited them. Superstition and ignorance, and 
the sounds of strife and blood-shed as yet 
drown the bustle of the commitia. They have 
ample means in their hands and they have 
the wishes of the better part of mankind for 
their success. We have believed, and still fondly 
hope, that the American Republic is not to be 
joined to those of former ages, over which the 



CITY OF WASHINGTON. 99 

plough.share of desolation has been driven and 
on many of whose brightest deeds the pall of 
oblivion has fallen. That the fears of the timid 
may prove idle, that the anticipations of the 
wise may be realized, and the hopes of the most 
sanguine be fulfilled, should be every patriot's 
prayer ; but neither prayers, or wishes or hopes 
will avail, without enterprize, energy, learning, 
virtue and perseverance ; all these are in the 
people, and if they be true to themselves they 
will perpetuate their liberties. Their destinies 
are in their own hands. The responsibility of 
this age is tremendous, and it will be increa- 
sed with every succeeding one. The pillars of 
the temple are knowledge and virtue, and as long 
as these remain unbroken the edifice will stand; 
but faction, like the strong man, may break them' 
down and strew destruction around, but this evil 
may God avert. 



X.SII'TEIl X£. 



Washington, Jan. 1830. 
Deae Sir, 

The capitol of the Congress of the Uni- 
ted States is a very noble building. The order 
is called Corinthian ; but, in truth, it is a med- 
ley of all orders. The whole edifice is now 
completed. It covers an acre and a half and 
1820 feet of ground. It has been an expensive 
building, having cost the United States nearly 
three millions of dollars. The square on which 
the capitol stands contains more than twenty 
acres, and is laid out -in a very handsome style, 
and is filled up with trees and shrubbery in a 
flourishing state. The dome of this building is 
the third in point of size in the world ; next to 
St. Paul's, and before St. Sophia's ; but this 
building has been so often described, that I shall 
not attempt it ; but give you a few remarks up- 
on the ornaments of the building, which have 
not been so particularly mentioned. 

Several artists of note have, from time to time, 
been employed on the capitol, and it bears 
marks of their taste and talents. They have 



ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 101 

ornamented the inside of the dome and other 
parts of the building with the labours of theirart. 
Over the western door of the dome is a grop 
in bass-rehef, representing the preservation of^ 
Capt. John Smith from the wrath of Pov/ha- 
tan, by the kind interference of his daughter, 
Pocahontas. This is the work of Capelano, an 
artist of considerable talent ; but he had seen 
more Italians than Indians, and his savages are 
Italian banditti, and his intended ciMld of the 
forest an Italian queen. In this picture, howe- 
ver, notwithstanding all its defects, there is more 
variety of expression in the countenances of the 
group, than is generally found in stone. This 
work attracts much attention, and elicits many 
criticisms ; but it will continue to be admired, in 
spite of its faults. Smith was a hero whose 
name is imperishable ; his life has more of ro- 
mance in it than that of any other man in the 
annals of history. Over the east door is a rep- 
resentation of the landing of the Pilgrims at Ply- 
mouth, 1620. The Indians on the rocks, the 
boat, the shore, the sea, are all well executed ; 
but the artist mistook the character of the com- 
ers ta.the new world ; he has given the religious 
adventurers the hat of the ancient Pilgrim, and 
t]^;dress also ; when nothing would be farther 
ftoM the truth. They were puritanical adven- 
turers, and not crusading pilgrims. The sub- 
ject is one much better for the pencil than the 
10 



102 ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL, 

chisel ; but it was given to illustrate a portion of 
American history, and the artist was told the 
story by those who, probably, did not precisely 
understand the capacities of his art, and he set 
about it as it was, a subject dictated to him, and 
which some body else would have been engaged 
to execute, if he had remonstrated against it. 
The Pilgrims of that day never thought of their 
glory in stone. The pen and the pencil have 
secured their immortality long since. The 
sculptor was Causici. 

Over the north door is sculptured William 
Penn, making his treaty with the Indians, in 
1680. He is holding the parley, in the fearless- 
ness of innocence, with the savages, who seem- 
ed to have caught the same spirit and to be go- 
verned by the same peaceful principles. This 
treaty is worthy of all praise, for it was kept in- 
violate for seventy years ; but the moral sub- 
limity of the subject must be fully understood 
before you can relish the design. There is nei- 
ther beauty or attraction in it, taken by itself. 
The capacities of the art do not reach such a 
subject. The painter would do better here also. 
" Gods, not men, should breathe in stone.^^ They 
are only seen in naked majesty. The modern 
succinct dress in marble may be made by skill 
so as to be endured, but never to be admired. 
Phidias could not have given immortality to a 
modern martinet, in dress, with all his frogs and 



ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 103 

taggery. The sculptor would have preferred 
the Winnebago, in his war dance, almost in na- 
tive nakedness, to one so bedizzened. 

On the pannels between the doors, looking 
above them, are several fine heads in bass-relief. 
One of Columbus is so near a resemblance to 
some fine pictures of him, that it is probable the 
sculptor had hit upon something near a true like- 
ness. The head of Sir Walter Raleigh is also 
a fine one, resembling the best prints of him. 
They are richly deserving a place here. This 
talented, but unfortunate Englishman, deserves 
to be remembered in a country on whose shores 
he made a vigorous struggle to plant a colony. 
It was not his fault if it did not succeed. The 
heads of la Sale, and Sebastian Cabot, are rough 
statuary, but have considerable expression and 
life in them. They, too, merit a place in this 
pantheon, if enterprise and success are sub- 
jects of reward in this way. These are strong, 
and severe, pieces of physiognomy, but not with- 
out talent and character. They could not be 
recommended as models, nor are they so recom- 
mended ; but they are worthy of attention and 
notice. 

Over the great eastern door, outside of the 
dome, there is a head of Washington, taken from 
a picture, or bust, of an earlier age in Wash- 
ington's life, than is seen in Stuart's great pic- 
tyre. The bust has a striking likeness to the 



104 ORiNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL, 

head of the late Judge Washington. It is a la- 
boured production of Capelano's chisel. It is 
supported, to speak in the language of heraldry, 
by Fame, with her clarion on one side, and by 
the genius of immortality, ready to place the 
wreath on his brow, en- the other. It is ad- 
mired by many, and is certainly a specimen of 
very good proficiency in the art. But it is be- 
yond the art, and skill, and genius of Canova, 
to give us a just idea of Washington. The im- 
age in our minds was all perfect ; the eye could 
not be satisfied with any effort, however mighty, 
to give it body and tangibility. 

It was reserved for Lugi Persico to produce^ 
by patient labour, and unquestionable skill, uni- 
ted to the soul of genius, a work that will immor- 
talize the sculptor, and do honour to our coun- 
try. It is an ornament for the tympanum of 
the east front of the capitol. The figures are 
colossal ; the design is full of meaning, and yet 
is marked with great simplicity. On the right 
of the spectator is seen Hope, leaning on her 
anchor, and extending her right hand to the skies, 
directing her looks to the Genius of America, a 
still loftier figure, in partial armour. Hope is 
describing to the Genius some of these visions of 
glory which are crowding on her soul ; some of 
those unborn ages of her beloved republic ; 
while the Genius of the Nation, with dignified 
mien and placid countenance, points over a 



ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 105 

third figure, which is Justice, of a size in keep- 
ing with the others, and seems to say, we ask 
nothing that we are not entitled to by the stern- 
est decisions of the goddess. The eyes of Jus- 
tice are not, as usual, blinded, but are opened 
on the day, that she may see and judge all that 
passes under the sun. Between Hope and the 
Genius of America, there is an American Eagle, 
a noble piece of statuary ; the talons grasp the 
emblematical weapons of defence, with charac- 
teristic power. The breast, the wings, the tail, 
are full of life and strength, as is the head and 
beak of majesty. The head of the eagle is 
turned to the Genius, and " with eye retortive 
looks creation through.''^ The easy, elegant, 
and natural flow of the drapery, the fine finish 
of the hands and arms, and the graceful attitudes 
of these figures, take away, even when you are 
close to them, all those impressions of coarse- 
ness which susceptibility and taste have felt at a 
near inspection of colossal figures. It is not in 
nature to love the person of a giant. It was only 
through the medium of his deeds of generosity 
and valour that Hercules won the hearCs of those 
that praised him. Between the overgrown and 
the diminutive exist the forms of symmetry, 
grace, and beauty. That art must be exquisite 
that gives us those huge dimensions, as it were, 
directly in our eye-shot, and still contrives to 
take off the general impression of coarseness. 



106 ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 

Mr. Persico's work is now to be examined from 
the ground only ; the proper line of vision be- 
ino; extended more than an hundreed feet from 
the object. At this distance the figures appear 
about the size of human beings, full grown. I 
have no hesitation in saying that they are far 
superior to any thing of the kind in this coun- 
try, entirely free from that hoiden air, or that 
prominence of parts, often made in works of this 
sort, to catch the gaze of the tasteless spectator. 
This group appears all life, celestial life ; spi- 
rits communing v/ith spirits, in the dignity and 
calm repose of upper natures, without a single 
throe of mortal thought-bearing. 

After having said so much of the work, it is 
proper that I should say something of the artist. 
Mr. Persico is a Neapolitan, of about thirty 
years of age, or perhaps he is a little older, and 
full of the inspiration of his art. The clash of 
parties does not interest him, or the animated 
debate detain him but for a moment. The gaie- 
ties of the saloon, or the festive board, have but 
few charms for him, notwithstanding he posses- 
ses the mercurial temperament of his nation. 
Distinction in his art is the predominant passion 
of his soul ; and if he looks at a fair one ever so 
earnestly, it is only to find some line of beauty, 
or some grace of form or motion, to transfer to 
stone ; or, if he listens to an orator in the glow 
of his genius, and when the light of his mind is 



ORNAMENTS OF THE CAriTOL. 107 

beaming on all around him, it is only that he 
may catch all this to give it to after ag&s, when 
the image of the speaker has faded from the me- 
mories of living men. 

The ornaments of the Superior Court Room 
are not numerous. The only one worthy of 
particular attention is a group opposite the bench 
of justice. On the left, as seen from the bench, 
is a figure too lank and lean for a cupid, or an 
angel ; but is probably intended for one or the 
other of these supernatural beings, or perhaps 
for the Genius of the constitution. The figure 
has wings, and holds the constitution of the Uni- 
ted States in its hand. On the head of the 
figure, whatever it may be, is a glory, or a 
schekina. This is in bad taste. It is attempt- 
ing too much, and therefore produces a failure. 
All the other parts of the design are classical. 
This is from sacred history. The middle figure 
is Justice sitting in a chair, (Phidias or Praxi- 
telles knew nothing of such a seat for the god- 
dess,) with her right arm leaning on her sword, 
and holding the equal scales in her left. The 
face of this figure is excellent, and the drapery 
flowing and easy. Her proportions are rather 
more delicate than those in which the ancients 
exhibited the inflexible goddess. Before her 
sits the bird of wisdom, perched near some vo- 
lumes of law ; but the owl is formed in the mo- 



108 ORNAMENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 

dern school ; and the capitol to a groat, Mi- 
nerva would not know her bird if she should see 
him so beaked, so feathered, so trim and dove- 
like, unless she should guess it out by recog- 
nizing her sister Justice in the form of this 
belle, or resort to her divinity to discover the 
whole group in their transformation. This room 
is one of deep interest to every lover of his 
country. To see seven quiet, good looking 
men, covered with a slight robe of black, with- 
out enough of the insignia of office to tell them 
from so many pall bearers, sitting together, lis- 
tenmg to the arguments of men from every state 
in the Union, on great and important questions, 
of municipal, civil, and international law ; and 
thus without any emotion or excitement, settling 
all the numerous conflicting opinions that have 
grown up in this republic since its formation, is 
a specimen of the moral sublime, unequalled in 
the annals of civil or ecclesiastical history. 
These oracles of the Delphic cave have as yet 
been free from the corruption or fear of executive 
power, and uninfluenced by party strife in the 
halls of legislation. As long as this sanctuary 
is unassailed, and talents and integrity are se- 
lected and maintained in this branch of govern- 
ment, so long will it be the palladium of Ameri- 
can liberties ; but wo-betide the hour when 
political rancour shall come within these walls, 



0RNA3IENTS OF THE CAPITOL. 109 

to poison the fountains of justice, or to weaken 
her arm. The bickerings above them, in the 
senate chamber, may pass away, and the many 
boisterous and idle speeches be forgotten, while 
the country is safe ; but once pollute this hall, 
and the guardian Genius of the liberties of this 
country will leave it for ever. 



l.£TTER XXI. 



Washington^ — , 1880. 

Dear Sir, 

The President's House. — I shall be 
particular in my description of this building, as 
so much has been said of it which was errone- 
ous. It is a magnificent mansion, or rather will 
be when finished. It stands near the centre of 
one of the largest squares of the city, on an em- 
inence, nearly a mile and an half west from the 
Capitol. The building is of the Ionic order, with 
a southern and a northern front. It is one hun- 
dred and seventy five feet long, and eighty-five 
in width ; it has two lofty stories above the base- 
ment. There are thirty-one rooms of consid- 
erable size within the walls. As you enter the 
north door there is a fine large hall, called the 
entrance hall. At the left of this is the eastern 
room, whose length is the width of the house, 
making a room in the clear eighty feet in length, 
forty feet in width, and twenty.eight feet in 
height, with four fire places, two of them of ele- 
gant marble jams, mantle-pieces, &c. From the 



PRESIDENT'S HOUSE. HI 

south of the Hall you enter the elyptical room, 
which is the general audience room on Levee 
nights. The east room was intended for a gen- 
eral audience room ; and the elyptical room to 
receive foreign ambassadors, and public func- 
tionaries, on occasions of ceremony ; but the 
east room not having been furnished, until lately, 
the elyptical room has been used for all public 
ceremonies. East of the elyptical room is the 
Green Drawing Room ; this is of a medium size 
for such an edifice. On the west of the elypti- 
cal room is the Yellow Drawing Room ; on the 
west from this is the large Dining Room, of a 
fine size, and farther west still is the small Dining 
Room, and beyond this is the Porters room. 

The north front of the upper story contains 
six rooms for various purposes. The south front 
has seven rooms ; the anti-chambers, the audi- 
ence chamber, and Lady's Parlour ; this is di- 
rectly over the elyptical room, and of the same 
size of that. The basement story contains ele- 
ven rooms, kitchen, pantry, butler's room, &c. 
These are cool and convenient in the summer, 
and warm in the winter from the massy walls of 
the edifice. 

Some of the furniture of the house is elegant, 
but in general it looks much abused from the 
crowds of careless visiters. The Lady's par- 
lour may be said to be superbly furnished, but 
this remark does not extend to many other 



112 PRESIDENT'S HOUSE. 

rooms. Within twelve years past congress have 
expended eighty thousand dollars in furnishing 
this mansion, and there was some old furniture 
of the former stocks. Some portion of the plate 
is elegant and is now worth twenty thousand dol- 
lars, or more. 

The ornaments are sparse and not of high or- 
der. In the second south-east room there is a 
map of Virginia ; a portrait of Bolivar ; a bust of 
Washington, and one of Americus Vespacius. 
These latter ornaments are very good specimens 
of the arts. In the third room, the anti-chamber, 
there is an engraving of the declaration of inde- 
pendence in a gilt frame. In the yellow drawing 
room there is a portrait of Washington from the 
pencil of Stuart. In this room there is a French 
piano, which it is said cannot be kept in tune. 
In the days of omens, when Memnon's harp re- 
sponded to the ray of the sun, or jEoIus first 
breathed among the reeds, this might be thought 
to have a mysterious bearing on the jars of the 
Cabinet councils or at least, a Greek Poet would 
have said that the Genius of the place was not 
always happy, and tuneful. This palace belongs 
to the people, and should be adorned with the 
best specimens of the fine arts the country can 
produce. The works of the great painters 
should hang upon the walls, and those of their 
sculptors fill every niche. To the tenants of this 
house it cannot be of much importance, for to 



PRESIDENT'S HOUSE. 113 

them it is only a caravansy, where they throw 
down their wallets to cast a horoscope to lay 
spirits, and raise spells, and their hour comes, 
and they take up their march without restora- 
tion to health, or a forgiveness of their sins. 
Such is the omnipotence of the public mind in 
a free government. The whole square, except 
a few spaces for iron gates is surrounded by a 
substantial stone wall of excellent masonry. 
The four public offices of the secretaries are 
within these walls. The view from the north 
front is extensive and beautiful, but from the 
south front it is more extensive and still more 
resplendent, embracing in its range a lovely 
prospect of the Potomac. 

The site of the house is elevated about sixty 
feet above the river, and the descent is quite 
gradual to it. On the south-eastern side of the 
wall there is a stone arch for a gateway, it looks 
from the antiquity of the style and the colour of 
the material of which it is made, as if it had 
stood centuries defying the climate. Two large 
ancient weeping willows, one on each side of 
the arch, add much to its venerable appearance. 
These trees have not grown up since the date 
of the federal constitution. They are older than 
tlie city's charter. They were provincial seed- 
lings, now national monuments. It is said that 
an accomplished lady of the Great House in for- 
mer days when congratulated upon her eleva- 
11 



114 MERIDIAN HILL. 

tion remarked with a smile, " I don't know that 
there is much cause for congratulation ; the 
President of the United States generally comes 
in at the iron gate, and goes out at the weeping 
willows.^' 

Meridian Hill as seen from the president's 
house is situated ahout three quarters of a mile 
west of Columbia college, is a handsome seat, 
built by commodore Porter at great expense, 
which has been the temporary residence of Mr. 
Adams the late president of the United States. 
It probably derives its name from the expecta- 
tion that an observatory would be erected there 
by the government of the United States. To- 
ward such an object there were some steps ta- 
ken. In the year 1821 the president of the Uni- 
ted States authorized, under a resolve of con- 
gress, William Lambert, Esq. a distinguished 
mathematician to take proper measures for as- 
certaining with precision and accuracy the lon- 
gitude of the Capitol from Greenwich or Paris. 
He was assisted in taking his observations by 
William Elhot Esq. who had an extensive astro- 
nomical knowledge and experience in the use 
of instruments. This commission was executed 
to the satisfaction of the president. The govern- 
ment also sent an experienced mathematician, 
Mr. Hasler to Europe to purchase or cause to 
be made, all such instruments as might in his 



MERIDIAN HILL. 115 

opinion be necessary for an observatory. A 
most costly and admirable set of instruments 
was procured probably, equal, or superior to 
any set in Europe ; but the observatory was not 
erected, and when it was recommended by the 
next president, the whole was ridiculed and lost. 
The costly materials are nearly ruined by rust, 
and neglect. It is not made the duty of any 
department to take care of them. If this plan 
of erecting an observatory had been carried in- 
to effect we should now make all our calcula- 
tions of longitude from Washington, instead of 
Greenwich, which might have been called an 
era of scientific independence, which it behooves 
this country to declare as soon as possible. 
They have scarcely a map or chart of their own, 
out of their own territories. They have in the 
midst of every boast been guided more by the 
light of other minds than their own, a mortify- 
ing fact to those of theii' countrymen who are 
willing to make every exertion to wipe away 
this stain from their '-^ 'proudly emblazoned es- 
cutcheon,''^ and to make this equal with other na- 
tions in contributions to the common stock of 
knowledge. Individuals have done much, gov- 
ernment but little, in the cause of science. 
The government have done nothing of a public 
nature in the city to assist in measuring space 
or time. There is not even a public clock to 
regulate the hours of business or pleasure, or to 



116 MERIDIAN HILL. 

tell the weaiy and restless applicant for office 
how pass his long, and tedious days of heats 
and chills, in waiting for a definite answer from 
a department of the government. Indeed, I had 
almost forgotten to state that there is a sun-dial 
on the front of the department of State. This 
was probably, put there as the devise of some 
philosopher to teach the passing generations of 
politicians a solemn moral ; the design was a 
happy one, for it has often marked the hours 
of a great man's fame, and seen them pass away 
as a shadow oa its face^ 



XiETTER XXIZ. 



Washington, Jan. =-, 1830, 

Dear Sir, 

The Library of Co?jgress. — ^Congress 
had provided but few books for the general rea- 
der, until Mr. Jefferson offered his library to 
them as nucleus for a future national library ; 
the journals, laws, and state papers were about 
all the representatives of the United States could 
have access to in their public reading room, un- 
til the Jefferson library was purchased. It was 
a cheap one for the United States considering 
how many excellent papers in the form of 
speeches, tracts, pamphlets, and books it con- 
tains upon revolutionary history. The argu- 
ments urged to bring on the contest, the reason- 
ing required to keep the spirit of patriotism 
alive, to induce the people to form and accept a 
form of goverment, to secure the liberty they 
had achieved, are found in this library in great- 
er abundance, than perhaps in any library be- 
longing to an individual in this country. In 
forming this library Mr. Jefferson had exercised 
11* 



118 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

his judgment, no doubt ; but much of the most 
valuable part of it was the growth of the times 
of struggle and determination, and if they had 
not been gathered then, would have been lost 
by neglect, and they could not now be called 
back by any conjuration. The collections in 
this library of history, general politics, statis- 
tics, and scientific works and classical literature 
is considerable ; the deficiencies of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's library, have been supplied by the appro- 
priations of congress for the library department ; 
the library committee are members of congress 
of a high literary and scientific reputation, and 
what they recommend seldom meets with any 
obstacle. They have with great taste and judg- 
ment purchased many rare works of great value 
to scholars, as also many of high taste and fash- 
ion for those who have only time to indulge the 
eye upon wire-wove or vellum paper, or impe- 
rial bindings, or exquisite engravings. The ex- 
penditure of about live or six thousand dollars a 
year is a trifle for the government, and yet, by 
this appropriation, in twenty years this will he, 
one of the first libraries in the world ; as it now 
is, it probably stands the fourth in this country ; 
but there are several of the minor class that are 
at present nearly equal to it, in point of numbers. 
There is a very respectable library belonging 
to a company in the city. It contains between 
five and six thousand volumes, and these are 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 119 

very well selected. It is as rich in American 
literature as any miscellaneous library of its 
size in the United States, 

This library is increasing under judicious 
management, and promises to be in a few years 
an extensive concern. 

Each branch of the government has an ac- 
cumulating library. That of the state depart- 
ment is of considerable magnitude ; but is of 
very little value at present to any one, but those 
in its immediate neighbourhood. This is not as 
it should be ; the library of the state department 
ought to be kept in a spacious room, fitted with 
every convenience for taking notes and making 
extracts, &;c. It should contain all the Ameri- 
can works to be found in the book market, in 
proper order for the inspection of every visiter 
properly introduced. The sums now expended on 
European works are next to useless here ; which 
under proper direction would, in the course 
of a few years, make up a very fine collection 
of American books. Of the current publications 
there are a considerable number of volumes de- 
posited in that office by the laws of copy-right, 
and in addition to this supply, a few thousand 
of dollars annually would tell well in increasing 
the stock. The secretaries of state have gene- 
rally been scholars, and it is therefore surpri- 
sing that this library should not be found in a 
better state, one we mean more conducive to 



]20 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE. 

general cunvenience and the diffusion of infor- 
mation relating to our own country. It is but 
justice to say that these remarks apply to the 
library as it was before Mr. Van Beuren came 
into office. It is to be hoped that he has made 
some reform in the premises. 

The Columbian Institute was incorporated in 
1819 ; it had existed for some time before this 
period as a literary and scientific society. It 
was founded upon a noble basis, to promote 
learning in all the various branches of arts, sci- 
ences, and letters. Its members are resident, 
corresponding, or honourary. Contributions are 
exacted of the resident members, of papers upon 
such subjects as each member choses to write 
upon ; and there has, from time to time, been a 
good deal of talent exhibited. These papers are 
kept on file, and will be useful to the society 
hereafter. Congress has granted to this insti- 
tution the use of several acres of land for a bo- 
tanic gorden and other purposes. By the libe- 
rality and exertions of some of its members this 
garden has been well laid out, and many of the 
trees and shrubs of other countries have been 
transplanted and nurtured there. This, v/ith a 
little of that liberality that congress has shown 
to some other institutions or other projects, 
would flourish; for there are several literary 
and scientific men who would spend many of 



COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE. 121 

their leisure hours in the botanic department of 
the society if they could do it to advantage. 

Congress has furnished the society with a 
convenient room under the library of congress 
where the collections of books, minerals and cu- 
riosities are deposited. Resident members are, 
it is said receiving encouragement from corres- 
ponding members, by way of donations, books, 
and minerals, and works from their own pens ; 
and after the bustle of politics is over, it is to be 
hoped that the watchful eye of the scientific and 
literary part of congress will see the wants of 
the society, and that the liberal part will be dis- 
posed to aid in giving it something annually to 
carry on their useful labours. The members 
are most certainly labouring for the good of the 
community at large, not for themselves, and 
therefore deserve encouragement. It has talent 
sufficient among its members to do honour to the 
reputation of the country in the literary and sci- 
entific world, as yet, their publications have 
been but few, but those are of a high order and 
have been well received every where. The 
first was a Eulogy on Mr. Jefierson, by Mr. 
Harrison Smith. This is not only valuable as a 
composition, but it is more so as arising from a 
particular acquaintance of Mr. Jefferson who 
knew him in the ease and freedom of domestic 
life. The second was an ample memoir of John 
Adams by a relation, friend, and familiar ac- 



122 COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE. 

quaintance, Judge Cranch. This is a chaste, 
plain, sensible discourse upon the merits of the 
great patriot of the east. It abounds in facts 
and judicious reflections, and will be a valuable 
document for the future historian. The next 
was of a more general character, from Mr. 
Southard, the secretary of the navy. The gen- 
eral strain of the orator was to show that it was 
the duty of government to patronise the arts, 
and sciences in this country. His doctrines 
were sound and most manfully enforced, and 
should have made a deeper impression on the 
national legislature than we fear they have. 
The last was from Mr. Everett, and as might have 
been expected was a splendid performance. Line 
upon line and precept upon precept, are still want- 
ted to rouse our government to become the pa- 
tron of letters, the arts and sciences and the 
friends to the learned men of the country. 

The society in the summer of 1827 met with 
a great loss in the death of Robert Little, who 
had been a most active member. He was a 
thorough scholar, a zealous promoter of letters 
and sciences and deeply engaged in the welfare 
of the Columbian Institute. The death of a man 
of virtue and good sense is a calamity at all 
times, but [the loss of an active, intellectual 
member of an infant society is incalculable. 
Mr. Little was an ardent, but practical man and 
had the faculty of infusing his enthusiasm into 



LITERATURE OF WASHINGTON. 123 

Others less apt to kindle than himself. He was 
devising liberal things for the Institute, which, 
would soon have been carried into effect if he 
had been spared a short time, only, to have ma- 
tured his plans and made a communication of 
them. Foreigners have as yet a right to smile 
at this government for their neglect of learning 
but we trust that the groves of the academy are 
growing up ; that the Pierian springs are gush- 
ing from the hills, and that the muses will not 
forever be frightened away by the spasms of 
party, or neglected for petty electioneering de- 
bates. 

Men in office, in Washington, have been, and 
are, too busy to make books ; they hardly read 
them. Some of the different documents from 
the several Presidents, and members of the suc- 
cessive cabinets, are works of great merit, of 
their kind. Among the most conspicuous of 
these is the Report of Mr. Adams, when he was 
Secretary of State, on weights and measures. 
This is a most learned Report, and is creditable 
to the nation, as well as to the author. The first 
book, giving any account of the District of Co- 
lumbia, was written by Col. Lear, who was an 
aid to Washington, and afterward Consul to Al- 
giers, &;c. This book is now out of print. Since 
that time, several descriptions of the District, and 
city, have been given by residents, travellers, 



124 LITERATURE OF WASHINGTON. 

and all sorts of people — some of them full of er- 
rors and absurdities. The best accounts were 
from the pen of the librarian of Congress, G. 
Watterson, Esq. and much careful detail may be 
found in Elliot's Washijigton Guide. Samuel 
Harrison Smiih, Esq. formerly editor and pro- 
prietor of the National Intelligencer, published 
a history of a session of Congress. It was the 
session of 1801. The volume contained 190 pa- 
ges, and gives a condensed view of the pro- 
ceedings of that year. 

S. Blodget, finding how scanty the statistical 
information was in the country, wrote a work 
upon that subject, and brought his calculations, 
conjectures, data and results, down to 1806. 
Although not a perfectly accurate book, it was 
a good one, and gave a good deal of information 
to the people of the United States, on subjects 
they did not know much about, or had reasoned 
too little upon. Mr. Blodget was among the 
first settlers in Washington, and like many other 
sensible men, was romantic in his calculations 
on the probable yearly increase of the population 
of the city. 

B. Woodward published a work in Washing- 
ton, on the substance of the sun, which made 
some noise in its day. 

Mr. Watterson, we have before mentioned, 
has written several popular and useful books — 
" Letters from Washington ;" " Course of Stu- 



LITERATURE OF WASHINGTON. 125 

dy ;•" " L. Family ;" " Tabular Statistics of the 
United States," &c. The public are much in. 
debted to him for much useful information, con- 
veyed in a good style. Some of the sketches of 
the great men, in and about Washington, whicli 
are to be found in his works, are splendid and 
original, and give a very fair view of their cha- 
racter. 

The public are much indebted to a lady of 
Washington, Mrs. Harrison Smith, for two very 
clever novels, one called " A Winter in Wash- 
ington," the other, " What is Gentility ?" The 
peculiar habits and manners of the fashionables, 
and of those who would be fashionables, are hit off 
with admirable tact, and the prevailing follies of 
the society of the District exposed and satirized 
with no little neatness. The latter of these 
books, particularly, should be read by those who 
are in the chrysalis state, and whose wings and 
colours are growing. 

Dr. Thomas Ewell, of Georgetown, published 
a volume of Chemical Discourses, which were 
v/ell received ; and Dr. J. Ewell has published, 
in Washington, an improved edition of his work, 
the Medical Cosjpanion. This is a most valu- 
able family book. It contains, in an attractive 
form, many useful precepts, directions, and reci- 
pes for the use of families in sickness ; and 
where physicians are not to be had readily, is 
invaluable. 
12 



126 LITERATURE OF WASHINGTON. 

Thomas Law, Esq., has, aUhough now nearly 
an octagenarian, lately published a book upon 
currency. He is a man of no ordinary powers 
of mind. His life has been an eventful one. In 
England, his native country, he was considered 
a man of mind. In India he was distinguished 
for his financial talents, and was a great bene- 
factor to the natives, by his judicious plans for 
their relief. He was the companion of Teign- 
mouth, and the friend of Sir WiUiam Jones. 
Active and enterprising, he saw the accounts of 
the establishment of our Federal City, and he 
hastened to this country to identify himself with 
its growth, yrom the corner stone to the setting up 
the gates thereof. He purchased largely of the 
soil, built on an extensive scale, suggested ten 
thousand plans for the improvement of the city, 
and for the prosperity of the nation ; but the 
slow, doubtful, and often strange course of Con- 
gress, came not only in his way, but in the way 
of all those deeply interested in the welfare of 
the city ; and he has spent the days of his matu- 
rity and wisdom in unavailing efforts for the im- 
provement of it. It is happy for him, however, 
that he has lived to see the dawn of a better day 
for Washington ; and if he cannot stay here long 
to enjoy it, as a good man he will rejoice in the 
hopes of his friends and descendants. If his diap- 
pointments have been numerous, yet it can not 
be said that they have soured his temper or 



LITERATURE OF WASHLNGTON. 127 

hardened his heart, or that his tenants have felt 
his resentment, because he was deceived by 
those who could have favoured his plans. In this 
world, the insults received from those above us, 
are often repeated by those below us, in pitiful 
and aggravated forms. 

One of the most useful books printed in 
Washington, is the National Calejndak, by 
Peter Force. It contains, among other things, 
much useful information. The first number of 
this work contains some excellent historical re- 
marks upon the District of Columbia and of the 
city of Washington, which have furnished au- 
thentic matter for most of those who have writ- 
ten any thing upon the subject since. 

Gales and Seaton have, at great expense and 
trouble, printed three ponderous volumes of con- 
gressional Debates. They have not, as yet, 
been paid for their trouble. This is truly a na- 
tional work ; and for the fame of the present 
race of politicians, and the benefit of those who 
come after them, should be continued. Indivi- 
duals, however enterprising, cannot afibrd such 
expenditures on works that are in fact rather 
printed for other ages than our own. Gales and 
Seaton are well qualified, in all respects, to give 
these debates to the public, freed from party bi- 
asses, and properly pruned, and brought down 
to a reasonable length ; and also capable of se- 
parating the chaff from the wheat, and freeing 



128 LITERATURE OF WASHINGTON. 

the reader from the labour of getting rid, by his 
own mental process, of all the crudities of legis- 
lation. 

There are several bookstores in Washington, 
in the hands of business men, who publish many 
current works, and are usefully engaged ; but the 
most important establishment in the city is P. 
Thompson's. His store is not so large, per- 
haps, as some in New-York, Boston, or Philadel- 
phia ; but, for rare editions of valuable works, 
in many languages, is not surpassed in the Uni- 
ted States. It contains most of the best editions 
of classical works to be found in. Europe, and 
also many works of great taste in the printing 
and binding, (fee. To the visiter, this bookstore 
is what bookstores were in the days of Johnson, 
and Burke, and others, a reading room for clas- 
sical gentlemen, who were desirous of seeing 
more than they were able to buy. The propri- 
etor is himself a gentleman of education, and is 
often an index, and learned commentator on 
his most profound volumes, when the examiner 
wishes for, and needs a guide, Vt^hich is often the 
case in this country, where scholarship is not a 
profession, except with a few. The writer for 
one, among many, has to acknowledge his po- 
lite attention and valuable assistance in frequent 
examinations of matters out of the common path 
of literary intelligence. 



PERIODICALS. 129 

The city has not been wanting in newspa- 
pers since its first establishment. The National 
Intelligencer was commenced in 1800, when the 
city was actually made the seat of government, 
for thirteen years it was published three times a 
week, and since that time it has been a daily 
paper. During the first of its years, there was 
a weekly paper connected with it, and growing 
out of it, called the United States Gazette. 
Since it has been published daily there has been 
a tri-weekly paper for the country, bearing the 
same name, and containing all the best matter 
of the daily, without the advertisements or other 
mere city concerns. It has a most extensive cir- 
culation through every part of the Union. 

The Weekly Register was first published in 
1807, and in 1808 changed its name to the 
Washington Monitor. It was edited by Mr. 
John Colvin, whose life was passed mostly in 
literary labours in Washmgton. He was a man 
of abilities, and some of his writings show supe- 
rior acquirements. 

In 1809, Dinmore and Cooper published the 
Wasliington Expositor. 

At the commencement of the war, in 1812, 
the Washington City Gazette was published by 
William Elliot. 

The Hive by Mr. Lewis. 

The Senator by Mr. Cummings. 

In 1823 the National Journal was got up and 
12* 



130 PERIODICALS. 

published twice a week. The next it was a tri- 
weekly paper ; but in a short time become a 
daily, and has continued so ever since. 

From 1822 to 1824 the Washington Republi. 
can was in existence. This was ably conducted, 
but it was at length absorbed in the Journal. 

In 1824 The Telegraph was established, and 
within a few years was purchased by Duff Green, 
who conducts it now. This is an extensively 
circulated paper. 

A short time since there was a religious pa- 
per coming out once a week, called the Colmn- 
bian Star, which has since been transferred to 
Philadelphia. It was rather a religious than a 
political paper, and was edited with a brisk reli- 
gious spirit, but had no offensive sectarian cast. 

John Colvin, in the latter part of his life, com- 
menced his Weekly Messenger which publica- 
tion his wife conducted for several years after 
his death. 

A periodical called the Theological Reposi- 
tory was kept up a while by the contributions 
of the clergy. 

The Columbian Register is a religious pa- 
per, has been published in this city for nearly 
two years and is still continued. It is a religious, 
paper of a very tolerant spirit. 

A literary paper has lately been got up here, 
called the WasJiington City Chronicle which 



PERIODICALS. 131 

promises fair to be a valuable repository of use- 
ful knowledge. 

It would be pleasant to make some remarks 
upon the talents displayed in the several works 
we have mentioned, but in most cases it is too 
late to censure, and it would do no good to com- 
mend ; for most of the writers in them have pas- 
sed away where praise and blame are equal, 
and it is never safe to cause the ghost of a poli- 
tician to come up ; for their graves, like the wiz- 
zard, Michael Scott's, are full of strange things. 
No one, who wishes to amuse, or arouse the peo- 
ple, must look back on matters not easily ex- 
plained, and perhaps not worth knowing, if they 
could be known. Most things bear the stamp 
of the hour, and all that belongs to that hour, is 
not easily recalled. Every passing day has its 
signet, but the impression is often too faint to 
be retained on the memory. The life of a politi- 
cian resembles that of a feeder at an ordinary of 
a hotel ; he sees one after another go away, un- 
til his turn comes to depart also ; such is the 
career, and the impression of one who takes aB 
active p&rt in the affairs of men. 



X.ETTSR XIV. 



Washington, -, 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

The American Colonization Society 
was established in this city about thirteen years 
since, and at once engaged the attention of some 
of the first men in the country, in the slave-hold- 
ing states, as well as in the non-slave-holding 
states. The great objects of this society were 
to found a colony in Africa of the free people of 
colour of the United States ; that in process of 
time a place might be prepared for the surplus 
population of the blacks, and to extend the bles- 
sing of civilization and religion into the interior 
of Africa. If the maxim " Finis origine pendit" 
is to hold as in any measure true, this society 
cannot fail of success. They were fortunate in 
their late agent Mr. Ashman ; he was a soldier, 
a politician, a judge, and a divine ; he pursued his 
own plan, with that which was marked for him, 
with the romantic spirit of a crusader and the 
aeal of a martyr, to which glory he at length ar- 



COLO?JIZATION SOCIETY. 133 

rived. They have been fortunate too in their 
secretary and principal agent in Washington, 
the Rev. Mr. Gourley ; who, with those acquire- 
ments, talents, and attractive virtues that would 
make him eminent in his profession, has left his 
high calling, and given up the pulpit, to labour 
in this cause, which neither promises worldly 
interests or glory. Thirteen annual reports are 
already before the public, and abound in interest 
both in manner and fact. The colony planted 
in Africa has had much to struggle with, but has 
succeeded beyond the expectation of many of its 
wisest founders, who were well aware of the dif- 
ficulties of the undertaking. No event since the 
adoption of the Federal constitution and the es- 
tablishment of the Bible Societies, has called 
forth more mind or eloquence than the welfare 
of this society. There are already twelve state 
Colonization Societies in the Union, and others 
are forming. These are under the direction of 
the men most distinguished for talents and vir- 
tues in their several states. In addition to these 
there are already established, and most of them 
in a flourishing condition, about one hundred aux- 
iliary societies scattered throughout the coun- 
try. The whole will constitute a moral engine 
whose power must be felt at home and abroad. 
God. Sliced them. If he does not prosper this plan, 
or some other, I know not what evils a century 
may produce. 



134 COLONIZATION SOCIETY. 

The subject of slavery with this nation is, the 
dead fly in the ointment. The non- slave holding 
states approach the subject with great reluctance, 
for the Harry Percys of the south start up with 
rage at the slightest allusion to it ; but it is ne- 
cessary that the subject should be fairly and 
openly discussed, and the extent of the evil un- 
derstood, not only for the satisfaction of the pre- 
sent generation, but that this age may devise 
some means to protect future ages from the 
overwhelming growth of this evil. The non- 
slave-holding states had many errors of opinion 
to correct. Their impressions of cruelty of the 
masters of slaves are (juite imaginary. From 
no slight acquaintance with the subject, I have 
no hesitation in saying that in general, the slaves 
are well treated. The subject of slavery was 
incidentally discussed in the nineteenth con- 
gress, occasioned by a member of the House 
from the state of New- York, having offered a 
resolution to inquire into the case of a free 
black, who had been confined in the jail of the 
District of Columbia, as a runaway negro, and 
who was at length sold as a slave for cost and 
charges. The slate of New- York was in a fer- 
ment on this subject, and the honourable mem- 
ber offering the resolution had partaken deeply 
of the excitement. The speech made by Col. 
Ward in support of this resolution was spirited 
and eloquent. He recounted, in most animated 



COLONIZATION SOCIETY. 135 

language, the circumstances of the case and in- 
sisted upon some security for the Africans of his 
state, who should chance to pass into anoth- 
er that might be a slave-holding one. The 
South Carolinians, and Georgians were most fu- 
rious in the debate, but the ferment lasted onlv 
for a short time. The next congress the same 
gentleman presented some petition from his con- 
stituents touching upon the same subject, the 
storm w^as up again, and he defended the peti- 
tition with his usual zeal and ability, but there 
the matter rested. Col. Ward did all an able 
member should or could have done. If these 
colonization societies are kept alive with the 
spirit that has been shown in them, in times past, 
I firmly believe that, by the smiles of Provi- 
dence, the blessing of liberty will, in no distant 
day, cheer even the sun-stricken African on his 
native shores. That the race will not only be 
free, but enjoy their freedom accompanied by 
all the arts of civil life, and those institutions 
which will secure them to the christian family 
for ever. The thought is an animatino; one and 
should arouse the liberal and the philanthropic 
throughout this great country to come to the 
work most heartily, with purse, pen, and tongue, 
which when united seldom fail of success. The 
most enlightened portion of the blacks have a 
just view of their own situation, and are anxious 
to prevent any spasmodic exertions for their 



136 CLERGY. 

emancipation. At the time every African heart 
was overflowing with gratitude to Col. Ward for 
his bold and philanthropic exertions in their 
cause, I heard one of their preachers in the 
pulpit, at Washington, make a most judicious 
speech upon the subject. It was full of politi- 
cal wisdom and christian feelings ; it inculcated 
thankfulness to friends and forgiveness to ene- 
mies, and it was accompanied by a prophecy 
that the time was approaching for their libera- 
tion. He saw in the spirit of the thousand in- 
stitutions of charity and benevolence which 
abounded in the world, the political redemption 
of his race. The speech of the good, and intel- 
ligent member of congress, he said, was only a 
part of that, which in a few ages should be on 
every patriot's tongue ; and freely remarked to 
his hearers, that, if they were religious, and 
prayerful, God would hasten the day of this de- 
liverance. 

Clergy. — The religious denominations are as 
numerous in Washington, according to the num- 
ber of inhabitants, as in any other place in our 
country ; but if there is no great harmony among 
them, there is no discord. Each pursues his 
own course, and preaches his own doctrines, un- 
molested by controversy or opponents. Con- 
gress protects all, and cherishes none. They 
have a fair firild for the display of their talents, 



THE CLERGY. I37 

in any form of Christian doctrine. There is, or 
rather has been, some opposition to the Unita- 
rians ; but that is nearly over ; and the otiier 
denominations are learning a lesson from the 
Rev. Dr. Mathews, of the Catholic Aiith, to do 
good, icaJk humbly, and love mercy, and live in 
unity with all mankind. The clergymen of 
Washington, as a body, have as good a share of 
talents as those of other cities, and the religious 
character of the people stands as high. Consi. 
dering that the city is a thoroughfare, it is as- 
tonishing that there is no more fanaticism preva- 
lent here. A learned, pious, evangelical body 
of divines, is the greatest blessing to any place, 
ia a free country, that can be imagined. The 
pulpit with them is a High School, in which, i>n 
addition to a common code of ethics, the great 
doctrines of divinity are taught, the precepts of 
salvation are explained, and heaven brouo-ht 
down to earth. Whatever there is deep in phi- 
losophy, beautiful in morals, charming in litera- 
ture, or sweet in affection, are made familiar to 
man by the zeal and learning of the pulpit. It 
brings man to a familiarity with his I^Iaker, and 
takes away his enmities to his fellow men ; it 
gives a high zest to life in the hopes of futurity, 
and takes away the darkness and horror from 
the grave, and the sting from death, by the light 
it gathers and sheds from the Gospel. This 
country has been advanced half a century in its 
13 



138 THE JUDICIARY. 

intelligence by the pulpit, notwithstanding that 
much time and breath has been wasted in idle 
disputes, and frivolous distinctions, in points that 
were nu^-atorv, or in commentaries that were 
absurd. 

The Bar of the District of Colunibia is nume- 
rous, for the population and business ; but it is 
certainly respectable in point of talents and 
learning : but there does not appear to be that 
esprit dii corps among them, as exists in some 
parts of our country, among the gentlemen of 
the bar ; but they are gentlemanly and courte- 
ous towards each other. Men, similarly edu- 
cated, are alike in every part of the world. If 
law be a science, it is only the science of bring- 
ing particular cases under fixed and settled 
rules. Morals change with every age, and 
opinions fluctuate with every hour, and old 
enactments give place to new ; but that sagacity 
which brings all the powers of the mind to the 
standard set up, w^hatever it may be, makes the 
good lawyer, whether the possessor be in Tur- 
key or in the United States. 

Congress has mcde a very good judiciary 
system for the District of Columbia. A Dis- 
trict Court has been established here, upon the 
same principles as tho^e of other districts in the 
United States. This bench is filled by Judge 



MEDICAL SCHOOL. 139 

Cranch ; whose talents, learning, patience, and 
integrity, are well known to all who have the 
honour to know him. ^ 

There is also a Circuit Court for the District 
of Columbia, which is held four times a year. 
Judge Cranch is Chief Justice of this Court ; 
Judges Thurston and Morsell, are assistant Jus- 
tices. This court find some little inconvenience, 
at times, from the singular fact, that what is law 
in one part of their jurisdiction, is not law in 
another ; the statutes of Virginia, and in like 
manner those of Maryland, being still in force in 
those parts of the District Avhich formerly be- 
longed to those states ; and in the growth of 
these states, there is no proof that they were 
ever so kind as to copy much from each other. 

The professors of the healing art are nume- 
rous and highly respectable in Washington. 
Most of them are men of good education, and 
not a few of them have seen considerable prac- 
tice before they came to this citv. Some of 
them have served in the army or navy, and oth- 
ers were educated abroad, or in the first schools 
in this country. They deserve much credit for 
getting up a medical school, which has been in 
operation but a few years only ; but the lectures 
delivered here, in the dilferent departments, are 
of a high order, and have been delivered with- 
out any of that quackery, that struggles for ef- 



140 ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

feet ; and that produced, thinks of nothing else. 
The graduates are well instructed ; and if, as 
yet, are not numerous, have been respectable 
for acquirements. It is connected with Colum- 
bia College, and is composed of a Dean and 
Faculty, made up of professors in such branches 
as are generally taught in such an institution. 

The Washington City Orphan Assylum was 
got up by certain charitable ladies of distinction 
and worth in this city. With indefatigable la- 
bour and persevering exertion, they have laid 
the foundation of an excellent seminary, as well 
as an asylum for those helpless infants that have 
been deprived of their parents. It is not con- 
fined to one sex, but is intended to exercise cha- 
rity on a broad scale. A lady of property, Mrs. 
Van Ness, gave the corporation a lot of ground, 
in a pleasant and central situation, in Tenth 
Street ; and on it the association have erected a 
suitable building for their kind purposes. The 
corner stone of this edifice was laid in the sum- 
mer of 1S28, with solemn and impressive cere- 
monies, accompanied with the orphan's prayer, 
and the good man's benison. These asylums 
have, after the fashion of thic- hospitable and in- 
dustrious age, taxed the ladies of this city with 
making articles of taste and fancy, which when 
mingled with other articles purchased for the 
occasion, are exposed at a Fair, and the sums 



ORPHAN ASYLUM. 141 

realized from the sales are directed to the benefit 
of the institution. The Sisters Of Charitv have 
their fairs also. 

Every age has something or other, for good 
or evil, to mark its existence. The brightest 
constellation of this age of improvement is its 
charities. They grow up in every society, they 
extend to every climate, and thus reach all 
mankind. 

There has been established, by the Catholics 
in this city, for several years past, an institution 
of charily for orphan females ; and connected 
with it a primai-y school for day scholars. This 
is a most excellent institution, under the care 
of intelligent Sisters, whose vows extend to a 
devotion of their time, that can be spared from 
their religious exercises, to the educating of the 
infant, female mind in religious duties and useful 
knowledge. This delightful, but onerous task, 
is performed with true zeal, and untiring con- 
stancy, by those Sisters whose sole business is 
to do good, and wish well to mankind. The 
school is an admirable one ; each Sister has her 
branch of studies to attend to in these schools, 
and is not directed to others, but pursues that 
until teachinor in it is easv and familiar. Their 
buildings are convenient, their grounds are laid 
out with taste, and every arrangement unites 
judgment, economy, cleanliness and industry ; 
and, in fact, all the household virtues are con- 



342 TYBER CREEK. 

Slant handmaids of religion with the Sisters of 
CHARITY. These schools are every day becom- 
ing more justly appreciated, and the knowledge 
of their merits more fully developed. It would 
be agreeable to the writer to enter into some of 
the minute facts relating to this institution, in 
which there are no pecuniary views, no particle 
of worldly ambition, none of the pride that seeks 
for praise only. They are ambitious only as 
far as their fame may benefit the houseless child 
of want, whose yearnings have elicited their 
pity, and whose cries have gone up to heaven 
for succour. The charities of this a^e are not 
confined to males or females ; they belong to the 
warrior in the day of his glory, and to the female 
in the hour of her beauty and dominion ; they 
preserve the peaceful walks in the feuds of 
party strife, and in the change of political pow- 
er. Sectarians and oppositionists are all ac- 
tive in extending the influences of charity ; and 
if she is made, by those of limited knowlege, 
and of narrow views of man, accessary to bigot- 
ed notions, and persecuting zeal, this is only 
accidental and short-lived, or occasional, while 
the great acts she is called to perform, in every 
country, are, as a whole, pure, lofty, and noble. 

I cannot pass over the Tyber without saying 
one word of hat pleasant little stream. 



TYBER CREEK. 143 

" A]ND WHAT WAS GoOSE CreEK ONCE, IS 

T-yBER NOW," was wittily said, and ought not to 
to excite the indignation of our countrymen as 
much as it has done against the English Ana- 
creon ; for our part we will forgive him this 
splenetic remark and all the other vitupurations 
he was guilty of, save and except his attack on 
Washington himself, for the pleasure he has af- 
forded us in his exquisite poetry since ; and we 
can easily believe that he who wrote Sacred 
Melodies to atone for writinor amorous ditties, 
has, in his heart, repented for his sins in attack- 
ing the greatest patriot of all times. It fails out 
that if there is satire in the line, there was not 
much truth in it. The name of the stream was 
not changed by way of making great things out 
of little, from Goose Creek to Tyber ; Goose 
Creek belongs to the vulgate of the boys, who 
sailed boats, and shot ducks in the stream ; but 
the old deeds of more than a century ago call it 
by the name of Tyber Creek, It is said that a 
landholder who lived on v/hat is now called Cap- 
itol Hill, finding the strong resemblance in the 
natural panorama of the surrounding country, 
named his little territory Rome, and the brook at 
the foot of the hill Tyber ; but this little brook 
may be of more importance to mankind than that 
Tyber which " floivs fast by the Eternal Citi/.'^ 
For this pure little stream, when other streams 
shall " mourn their fountains dry,^^ may be con- 



144 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

veyed in abundance to every part of the city, to 
refresh and adorn it, when the malaria has 
made Rome a desert. 

The manners and customs of Washington 
demand a moments attention : 

I have already in the historial sketch of the 
city, glanced at the general character of the in- 
habitants, but it may be well to speak of them 
more distinctly, as they are often either igno- 
rantly or wilfully misrepresented ; sometimes, 
indeed, caricatured by those who imagine they 
are praising them. And it must also be remem- 
bered that their general character must be eve- 
ry day changing, from the increase of popula- 
tion, and the great influx of strangers ; who, 
finding now what could not have been offered 
them in the earlier years of the history of the 
city, comfortable quarters, and good fare, are 
willing to make longer visits, and become 
more more acquainted with the manners and 
habits of the citizens of Washington. The 
amiable and scholar-like Warden, now resident 
in Paris, who has written in a distant land a 
good history of this country, gave, about thirteen 
years ago, a lively description of all he saw wor- 
thy of record in the District of Columbia, hav- 
ing spent the summer here ; but many things 
have altered since that time, and v/hat was then 
as much as could honestly be said of them, must 



JIANNERS AND CUSTOMS. I45 

fall short of the truth now. He seemed to feel 
alarmed for the society of the city, in contempla- 
ting the number of beauties married from the 
circles of fashion, by the members of congress, 
from time to time. This laudable custom stili 
continues ; but tiiere are no complaints of it as an 
evil, at present ; in fact, the dread of it as such, 
could only have existed in a bachelor's brain ; 
and if he had thought as much of the doctrine 
of political economy, as of his affectionate gal- 
lantry, he would soon have discovered that the 
supfly is increased by the briskness of the de^ 
mand,^^ The manners of a people are at all 
times affected by the greater or lesser impor- 
tance they attach to themselves ; particularly 
when this self esteem is made up in a consider- 
able degree of the space they may fill in the 
public consideration. The people of Washing- 
ton know that whatever transpires in the city, 
of a public nature, is a matter of deep interest 
to the rest of the nation. In such a place, the 
affairs of government are constantly discussed. 
The movements of the executive and the doings 
of the legislature are instantly known to all, 
and commented upon by all classes. The in- 
terest, however, which may be felt is not pre- 
cisely in proportion to the magnitude of the sub- 
ject ; but oftcner according to the bearing it 
may have on themselves. The appointment of 
a minister, or the recall of one, or of a judge of 



146 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

the Supreme Court, or the rapid advancement of 
a naval or military officer, great things in them- 
selves,- because they are important to the coun- 
try, make up only an item in the mass of daily 
information ; but the removal, or appointment 
of a clerk, or auditor, or any head of a Bureau, is 
an affair directly within their vision, and comes 
home to their business, and bosoms. But all 
these things, however pleasant or painful they 
may be for the moment, are hardly remembered 
a day, and certainly are forgotten in a fev/ 
weeks, in the quid nunc appetite of a free peo- 
ple. These changes produce a sort of mercu- 
rial disposition in a population ; which may, and 
m fact does, tend more to their happiness than 
that apathetical character which despotic govern- 
ments give to a people. Politics are all-absorb- 
ing topics of this republic. More time is cer- 
tainly taken up than necessary ; but still a good- 
ly share of our time, and many exertions are ne- 
cessary to keep the lamp of knov/ledge and the 
torch of liberty in pure and regular burning, and 
to save it from being deadened by the chills of 
indifference, or blown out by the fierce storms 
of faction. Restlessness, anxiety, and the sick- 
ness and fever of party feuds, is the tax that in- 
telligence has had, in every age, to pay for free- 
dom ; it was never sustained without it. The 
men of Athens, it is said, spent more than a 
fourth part of their time in politics. In Rome, 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 147 

the busy tribunes kept the people awake to their 
interests, and jealous of patrician power. The 
struggles between the nobles of Venice and the 
merchants, kept the whole population involved 
in endless disputes. In England, for centuries, 
public attention has been exerted, and great 
struggles made for public and private rights. 
The history of this country is a history of po- 
litical discussions, and perpetual struggles for 
liberty. The people have, from the first settle- 
ment of the country, devoted more than a quar- 
ter part of their time in learning their rights and 
in defending them, and in building up their in- 
stitutions. All, from twenty years of age to the 
grave, in any change cf years or situation in 
life, are daily engaged, among other things, in 
politics. Washington is the centre of all this 
bustle, the very ear of Dionysius, in which every 
remote whisper is reverberated. The com- 
plaints of the great and the little are all heard 
here ; the feeble, who mutter, but dare not speak 
aloud ; the bold, who rave in their disappoint- 
ments, and invoke the curses of the upper and 
the nether world, are also heard. The peo- 
ple of this city have the finest opportunity of be- 
coming acquainted with the talents and charac- 
ters of the prominent men in the country. They 
see at every touch and turn the obsequious min- 
ion, with his simperings and (latteries, and the 
consequential patron, bloated with " a little 



i48 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

brief authority." They not only see, but read, 
and read pretty thoroughly too, the true cha- 
racter of men in power. It falls to their lot 
often to see men one day surrounded by secre- 
taries, foreign ministers, and a bowing crowd ; 
who, on the next, pass off to private life, without 
a farewell salutation ; and another set arrive, 
who bustle through their reign, and then sleep, 
either living or dead, with their predecessors. 
This proves the force and majesty there is in 
the people ; but it lessens the importance of the 
individuals. To the great politicians of former 
ages, such a government, had it been truly 
sketched, would have justly been classed among 
the wildest fictions ever created ; but its perpe- 
tuity is a problem, the most timid need not fear 
a solution of. The intelligence of the commu- 
nity may safely be trusted in modelling a new, 
or repairing the defects of any form of govern- 
ment. There is no virtue or spell in any form 
€>f a constitution. The whole political safety, in 
a republic, consists in the purity and in the 
soundness of the grcLit body politic. 

The literary taste of the inhabitants now does 
them credit, and it is every day growing better. 
The visiters find but little time to devote to 
reading, and their previous acquirements are 
sufticient for all the demands of the occasion ; 
and to the honour of the country, I speak of the 
ladies more particularly, these are are sufficient 



MANNERS AND CUSTOxMS. 149 

for their purpose. In some of the prettiest, a 
close observer will see the lisp or drawl of the 
drawing room conversation, which is only a 
manner put on for the time. In the moments 
of intoxicated vanity from admiration and flat- 
tery, even the political philosopher looks wise 
and straightens up ; and can youth and beauty 
be expected to be more firm or insensible ? The 
diplomatic corps at Washington have not, in for- 
mer years, done much either to enrich, embel- 
lish, or enlighten the city. Those who have 
been sent here in former times, have, with some 
honourable exceptions, been of a secondary or- 
der of diplomatists, with their equipage and par- 
ties, and after making a dash, have hardly been 
heard of again. Many of them, no doubt, were 
men of talents ; but there was no opportunity of 
displaying their intellectual powers here. The 
corps are now, however, very respectable. The 
English minister is a scholar and a gentleman. 
The French minister, I make no distinction in 
their different ranks, is said to be a man of cour- 
tesy and learning ; and those from Netherlands, 
Holland, and Russia, are thought to be men of 
fine manners and high intelligence. South 
America, in her infancy, has sent us a good 
share of talents ; men of the most inquisitive 
minds, who are indefatigable in studying the po- 
litical institutions of this country, and in making 
themselves acquainted with the manners and 

14 



150 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

customs of it. This remark is not confined to 
the representatives of the new republics alone ; 
for no man in Washington was more respected 
and loved for his amenity, frankness, integrity, 
talents, and patriotism, than the late Brazilian 
minister, Mr. Rebello. His name is in every 
literary and scientific institution, and the poor 
have blessed him for his kindness. In former 
times a man was thought to have every claim 
to society, who was known to be familiar with a 
baron, count, or minister ; but the people are 
growing more republican every day, and the 
smiles of a diplomatist is not now the standard 
lor the admeasurement of claims to society. 
Now and then a romantic girl is found flirting 
to catch an attache ; but she is, fortunately, nine- 
ty-nine times out of the hundred, unsuccessful. 
During the session of Congress, the amuse- 
ments of Washington absorb no small portion of 
the attention of the visiters, as well as members. 
Political struggles produce a sort of dramatic in- 
fluence on society ; not that the theatre is very 
well attended ; but for tho short time it is kept 
open, it finds a very tolerable support when 
the press of visiters is great. The President's 
levees, and the parties of the secretaries, foreign 
ministers, heads of Bureaus, and those citizens 
who can afford to make parties, are frequent, 
and well attended. At these parties are collect- 
ed the most distinguished men, not only of the 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 151 

nation, but many foreigners of note. The visit- 
ers, who do not think of distinction, like well 
enough to see what is passing, and they find 
easy access to the social circles, and mingle in 
the throng, to see and examine for themselves. 
It is not difficult to get an introduction to men 
of importance, and to pass a social half hour with 
them. These rents are rather to be remember- 
ed, than enjoyed at the moment. These parties 
are so crowded as to level all distinctions. 
Governors, generals, judges, and political mana- 
gers, whose influence is something in a little dis- 
trict, are all lost in this congregation. Orators, 
whose speeches were fine at home, and doubt- 
less raised a most noble flame among their po- 
litical partisans, are astonished at being over- 
looked ; and poets, whose works have been 
printed on wire-wove and hot-press paper, and 
sent to the ladies' toilets in silk or morocco biiid- 
ine, are mortified that not even a belle lisps a 
line of their works, or ever whispers their names. 
The traveller, who has seen every kingdom on 
v/hich the sun looks down, is put precisely on a 
par with him who has just come down from the 
mountains, or out of the West, or from the East, 
Fashion is the bed of Procrustes, and all are 
suited to its dimensions. A whiskered dandy, 
a black-stocked, officer-like looking man, and a 
quizzing-glass attache, are all moving about, 
regardless of those they jostle or crowd. If you 



152 COLLEGE. 

inquire who it is that pushes you out of the way 
to get at a partner for the waltz, no body can 
tell you, and perhaps he hardly could himself, if 
you were to ask him, who he was ; no matter, 
he seems genteel, and that is sufficient for the 
hour. The waltz goes on, much to the gratifi- 
cation of the exquisites; for belles— aye, grave 
matrons, are swimming round in the dance, if 
Dervise-like whirling can be called dancing, 
and you see blowsy impudence and simpering 
familiarity gazing with Asiatic voluptuousness 
upon seemingly unsuspecting innocence, made 
giddy by unnatural motion, or unmeaning flat- 
tery. There is not much harm in all this ; for 
each one is taught to play a part, and it is all 
acting. There is an apparently sober, quiet 
part of the joyous whole, who are insinuating 
the little rumours of the day ; of this lady's part 
tialities, and of that gentleman's indiscretions, 
and without any decided ill nature, but just by 
the way of amusement, 

" Distort the truth, accumulate the lie, 
And pile the pyramid of calumny." 

This is a picture of all societies, where per- 
sons unknown to each other, except from the 
introduction of the moment, assemble. 

There can come no harm from our looking 
out of the limits of the city for a moment. The 



COLLEGE. 253 

College of Georgetown is delightfully situated 
on an eminence, that commands a fair prospect 
of all around. This institution was established 
about forty years since. It is a Catholic semi- 
nary, and was made a University by Congress in 
1815, with the power of granting degrees. The 
college buildings are commodious and sufficient- 
ly elegant for all the purposes of a school. The 
library is respectable, and the system of educa- 
tion is liberal ; the modern languages are taught 
there, with the classical, and youths of all deno- 
minations are received as students. The facul- 
ties are composed of pious and learned men, 
and the young gentlemen I have known, who 
were educated there, have been well instructed. 
The Catholic clergy of Maryland are in posses- 
sion of handsome revenues, arising from large 
tracts of glebe lands, throughout the state. 
These revenues have been kept for the true 
purposes of religion and learning, and the eccle- 
siastical orders have never been charged with 
ambition, as they have in other countries, nor 
have they aspired to high offices in the state or 
general government. The Protestant denomina. 
tions of every shade of doctrine have, unques- 
tionably from principle, in some period or other 
of the history of Maryland, been openly and se- 
cretly hostile to the Catholic church ; but it has 
gone on with such a tolerant spirit as to disarm 
all sects of their enmity, and nearly all of their 



]54 CONVENT OF VISITATION. 

opposition. The clergy of Maryland protected 
those persecuted by the Church of England on 
one side of them, and those exiled by the Puri- 
tans of the East on the other. In a free coun- 
try all men should, in the article of religious be- 
lief, be persuaded in their own minds, and the 
constitution of every state should give equal 
protection to all creeds ; 

" Tros, Rutulus ve, nullo discrimiae habebo," 
should be the language of the lawgiver in every 
age and nation. In the District of Columbia, 
this principle is fairly acted upon, and the com- 
munity feel its beneficial effects. 

The Convent of Visitation is an object of deep 
interest to all who take a part in what may be 
emphatically called the glory of this country — 
its education. Seminaries for boys are suffi- 
ciently numerous in most parts of the country ; 
the people have now to refine and exalt their 
character, not add to their numbers ; but well 
regulated female schools are yet much wanted. 
This Convent was established more than thirty 
years ago, by Archbishop Neale, a most worthy 
Prelate, and upon a most improved plan, with 
the piety and zeal of the order of which it is a 
part. There is infused into the constitution of 
it some of the most liberal principles of the age. 
The superior is elected by the sisterhood every 
three years, and is ineligible for more than 



CONVENT OF VISITATION. 155 

'iwo terms in succession. Thus the elective 
franchise in this country, in its most republican 
form, has found its way into " The Convent's 
Shade." 

The number of Sisters, or nuns, is about fifty; 
and thev are all devoted to religious duties and 
to the education of females. The younger Sis- 
ters are set to keep an eleemosynary school, and 
do much good by diffusing correct principles 
and information among the poor ; but the most 
valuable part of the establishment is the board- 
ing school for young ladies. This is in a most 
flourishing condition. The Sisters themselves 
are highly educated, in every branch of science, 
and in all the current and fashionable literature 
of the age, as well as in the profound ethics and 
the sublime doctrines of the Christian religion. 
In this institution the great evil of most schools 
is avoided ; this evil is to make one person 
teach many branches, and of course no one can 
be profound in all. Here, each sister selects 
her department, and never walks out of it ; six 
or seven, therefore, are united as instructers in 
the same branch, and the indisposition of one or 
two does not interfere with the course of instruc- 
tion in any branch. 

The languages are taught here with great ac- 
curacy, and with a pure, lady-like, and natural 
accent, the charm of polished society. The 
system of education here, extends to the minute 



156 CONVENT OF VISITATION. 

duties of housewifery, and the pupils graduate 
with a thorough acquaintance with the science 
of the kitchen and mysteries of the cuUnary 
artj without which no woman can be said to be 
all-accomplished. 

The system of government in this school is 
admirably strict, not severe ; decided, not im- 
perative. There is no espoinage ; no making 
use of one to find out the faults of another ; but 
their care and watchfulness are so sisterly and 
maternal, that the pupil is naturally moulded, 
not drilled, to good manners. Discipline is con- 
stantly going on even in those hours of relaxa- 
tion in which girls left to themselves often ac- 
quire an awkwardness of manners that cleave to 
them for the whole course of their lives. Such 
schools are rare. The Ursulines have just 
opened one on the same plan, near Boston, 
which is flourishing under a most accomplished 
superior. 

If this age has any thing to boast of over 
those that are gone by, it is in the difference of 
education, and the facilities it has invented to 
give a genteel education to female youths, with- 
out endangering the health, or diminishing the 
grace and beauty of their persons. 



IfETTER XV. 



New- York, ^, 1880, 

Dear Sir, 

This city is called the London of Amer- 
ica. Its growth since the close of the revolu- 
tionary war has been most wonderfully rapid. 
When the British evacuated it, in 1783 there 
were not twenty five thousand inhabitants in it, 
and the population is now over two hundred 
thousand. There is no city on the habitable 
globe so well situated for commerce as New- 
York. The deep and surrounding waters af- 
fording docks at the most trifling expense ; its 
central situation in regard to the south and east, 
make it the mart for both. The influx of for- 
eigners is greater here, than in all the other 
cities in the United States. All tongues and 
languages are heard in Broadway, from the dawn 
to midnight. The activity of the people is, or 
seems to be greater here than in other places. 
The houses of public worship, as most of diem 
are called to distinguish them from churches, 



158 NEW- YORK. 

when they are nearly the same, are numerous 
and many of ihem splendid. The hotels are 
spacious, and some of them kept in a great style. 
Many of the private houses are also elegant. 
There is as far as I can see a great deal of 
wealth, no small share of bustle in this city, and 
a pretty large share of want and suffering. The 
people are forever finding fault with the corpo- 
ration, as the mayor alderman and recorder are 
called, but this body spend a large sum of mon- 
ey yearly and probably much more judiciously 
than they have credit for. There is a respecta- 
ble college in the city which has sent forth ma- 
ny fine classical scholars ; but the people as a 
body are just beginning to be literary and sci- 
entific, but have made no small advances in 
knowledge. The interior of the state has grown 
beyond all parallel; from a secondary state, it 
has become the first in the union in population, 
and second to none in enterprize. This state 
alone has more than two thirds as large a popu- 
lation as the whole of the United States had 
when the revolutionary war broke out. The 
soil is rich, take the whole territory together, 
and seems capable of, as yet, unlimited cultiva- 
tion. The great canals bring the remote inte- 
rior to the seaboard ; an intercourse hardly 
dreamt of by the people of a former age. The 
foundations are laid for literary and scientific 
instructions in every part of the state which, 



NEW- YORK. 159 

when its resources are more fully developed 
will place her as forward in the blessings of in- 
struction, as she now is in activity, population 
and enterprize. The race of men, which has 
gone off the stage, laid the foundation for her 
present and future greatness. The Clintons, 
the Livingstons, the Van Courtlands, with Ham- 
ilton and an hundred others, were shrewd men 
who foresaw the rising greatness of the state 
and laboured to place many things in the right 
way for improvement. Their memories are res- 
pected, at the present time, and will be venera- 
ted hereafter. The politics of the state are va- 
cilating and uncertain, but no matter, the true 
leaven is in the people and the people^s institu- 
tions. The professions are as bodies, learned, 
and prosperous, and the yeomanry increasing 
in wealth and knowledge ; and these things are 
the brightest promise and the surest hopes of a 
people. Individual reputation has not, it is true, 
so great a security in the shifting winds of po- 
litical doctrines, as in some other states, but in 
the end, this is no great evil, for many assume 
and support, in other places, a fictitious reputa- 
tion, which perhaps may do more injury than 
the premature decay of the political importance 
of a few ambitious statesmen. It is however to 
be regretted that her influence in the national 
government is not greater than it is, having for 
several years past been nearly neutralized, by 



160 NEW- YORK. 

the strength of parties. She has many lessons 
to learn, but she is aware of her situation, and 
that is nearly half the battle, for a change of 
circumstances. 

In New-York there are several writers of dis- 
tinction who have assisted to enlighten the com- 
munity in various ways, and whose productions 
are well known to all the reading people. Paul- 
ding, for wit, and satire, is second to no one. 
His satire upon those pompous, inane travel- 
lers who swarm in this country, is so keen, and 
yet so playful, that those ridiculed must be quite 
tempted to laugh at their own picture, from his 
pen. PauWing can be grave as well as gay. 
Genuine humour however, is a scarce article ; 
there are an hundred good orators to one Juve- 
nal or Junius. The people of this country are 
beginning to value the refinements of wit, and 
to show some tolerable taste in judging of it. 

You are acquainted with the works of chan- 
cellor Kent. He is the Blackstone of the Uni- 
ted States for he has written four volumes of 
commentaries of nearly or quite the size of 
his great prototype. 

The work is found in almost every law-library 
from New Orleans to Maine and highly esteem- 
ed in every part of the United States. The 
style is easy, the language neat and pure, and the 
law unquestionable. It is a standard book, used 
in the courts. It was fortunate for the whole 



INEW-YORK. 161 

country that one state had so absurd a law in 
its code as to deprive themselves of the wisdom 
of a good judge, when he had reached the age 
of sixty. The Chancellor having reached that 
age, was out of office while all his corporal and 
mental powers were in full vigour. To have 
returned to the bar, would have been irksome, 
and he wisely commenced his legal labours as 
author, and satisfied the whole country, that 
profound lawyers and judges who wield a pen, 
as well as advocate or decide a cause, were to be 
found in the United States, as well as in England. 
The Chancellor is now about sixty six years 
of age, but as fresh and young as the bard of 
Teos describes himself i^ have been, when he 
had numbered as many years. Neither in move- 
ments, nor limbs, or mind, or imagination, can 
you see a particle of coming age in the Chan- 
cellor ; one might say of Kent, what a grave, or- 
thodox divine, of the true puritanical stamp, 
once said of Hamilton. He came from the east 
to see the man of mighty mind, whose reports, 
speeches, and whole course of political life, had 
pleased him so much. The desired interview 
was had, and the conversation lasted long, and 
was discursive and animated. When the holy 
man came home, all were inquisitive to know his 
opinion of Hamilton ; " was he as great as you 
expected ?" asks one ; " yes, greater," was the 
reply ; " what did he talk about ?" said another ; 
15 



162 POETS. 

" every thing,' said the divine ; " describe him/ 
says a third ; the old man began, hesitated, went 
on, run a parallel with one, as to his eloquence, 
with another as to his depth of thought and rea- 
soning ; and so on to a dozen, but all did not 
suit him, or convey, in his mind, any portion of 
his meaning ; at last in despair of doing justice 
to his subject he broke out and said, " vjhy, he is 
as lylayful as a hitten.^^ 

The Edinburgh Review has in the last num- 
ber stated that the people of the United 
States are wanting in Imagination. This asser- 
tion is the offspring of a profound ignorance of 
the subject of which the writer was treating. 
They are full of imagination ; a more mercurial 
people does not exist this side of Arabia. If 
the writer had said that their imaginations were 
not cultivated, and that taste was not yet suffi- 
ciently refined to place them among the first 
grade of poetical nations, there might have been 
some truth in the remark ; but it only argues an 
ignorance of this people from Maine to New-Or- 
leans, to say that they are wanting in imagina- 
tion. I will now nanie a few of the poets of this 
country to you. They are of the growth of dif- 
ferent parts of the country, most of them how- 
ever northern and eastern born. 

In this country there are no authors by pro- 
fession ; a few, perhaps, might be named, who 
have devoted a great portion of their lives to 



POETS. 163 

literature. Noah Webster, Hannah Adams, and 
perhaps one or two more : but generally, all 
the poets of the present day, and all other wri- 
ters in our country, are engaged in professional 
pursuits, and take up the pen occasionally, as 
circumstances require or opportunity offers. 

Doctor GfeoR&E-i Percival has devoted more 
of his time to poetry, than most of his brothers 
of the tuneful choir. He has written enough to 
make a very considerable volume. His Prome- 
theus, although not so much read as many of his 
other works, is full of deep philosophy and fine 
poetry. His smaller pieces are in every maga- 
zine and newspaper in the country. His Ian- 
guage is copious, smooth, and well chosen. He 
unites much of the strength of Akenside with 
the sweetness of Kirk White. His elements 
are all poetical ; and if his whole time was de- 
voted to writing, his country would be greatly 
the gainer by it ; but the stern necessity which 
binds, and often controls the destiny of the sons 
of song, makes him the supervisor of the works 
of others, and editor of many compilations, when 
he should be devoted to the offspring of his own 
genius. He is yet young for one of so ripe a 
fame ; and much is to be hoped for him in time 
to come. He is so mild, so gentle, and has so 
little of envy in his nature, that those who know 
him, love him ; and he has seldom, (a rare oc 



164 POETS. 

currence,) found even an enemy to his muse. 
I do not recollect a single criticism on his works 
that contained any acrimony. 

Bryant was educated a lawyer, and has been 
seduced from the hard labours of the profession, 
by his love of letters, to become an editor of a 
paper, and a general writer. His poetry has 
been greatly praised by those who were the best 
judges of literary merit. He has been more po- 
pular with scholars than with the great mass of 
the reading"community ; yet with them he holds 
a high rank. He is natural, easy, and tasteful, 
and condenses his thoughts with great power 
over language, by having clear views of his 
subject. He is descriptive when his subject ad- 
mits of it, but is always master of the philosophy 
of the heart, without which verse is nothing 
but a dress for moral sentiment and metaphysical 
reasoning. 

The Muse of Charles Sprague was, like 
Hoole's nurtured in a banking house. He has 
long been engaged in the duties of a bank 
officer, and discharged them with the most un- 
v/earied industry and care ; but these arduous 
labours have not repressed his warmth of zeal, 
or dipt the wings of his imagination. Some of 
his poetry is as solid and pure as the precious 
metals of his vaults. 



POETS. 165 

The Rev. Samuel Oilman, of Charleston, 
South-Carolina, is a poet of highly refined taste, 
and has given the public several morceaus of 
poetry, that show the vigour and delicacy of his 
muse. He has sometimes attempted subjects 
that were not poetical, being too high for the 
descriptive, such as the burning of the Rich- 
mond Theatre. Poetry may darken the gloomy, 
aggravate the awful, and extend the vast ; but 
when a scene is so overwhelming, so recent, and 
so settled in agony upon every nerve of the 
whole people, there is nothing left for the muse 
to do. At such a moment, grief is tearless and 
wo is dumb. To attempt, then, a requiem for 
the dead, is labour lost ; the eye cannot see an 
epitaph, traced with ever so bold a hand ; nor 
the ear hear a lamentation, however deep and 
loud it may be. This poem has, however, ma- 
ny fine touches of sentiment in it, and proves 
that the author, on a subject softened by dis- 
tance, or time, could be both descriptive and pa- 
thetic. 

N. Carter, whose classical travels have been 
extensively read in this country, was also a 
poet. He has given the public many pieces on 
occasional subjects ; but the most considerable of 
his productions is his Phi Beta Kappa poem on 
the Pains of the Imagination. The verse of 
this poem is smooth, harmonious, and sweet; 
15* 



166 POETS. 

the philosophy true, and the sentiment loiichirig. 
Indisposition gave a melancholy shade to his 
drapery ; but it is disposed of with exactness 
and taste. The news of his death has just 
reached us. He was too delicate for his pro- 
fession, the editor of a newspaper. Men are 
seldom found in the place best suited to their 
talents. 

Dawes is quite a young man ; but has writ- 
ten enough, that is beautiful and attractive, to 
place him in the constellation of poets that has 
lately risen to the view of the American people ; 
a constellation that emits a mild and lovely 
light ; but one that has not shone long enough, 
as yet, for the observer to calculate its precise 
range in the heavens, or to mark the exact 
magnitude of the different stars that form it. 
Justice, in time, will be done to each and all ; 
for the night of ignorance and superstition, in 
which the streaming meteor excited the wonder 
and fastened the gaze of nations, while the har- 
monious movements of the planets were but lit- 
tle noticed, has passed away for ever, and every 
eye is now fixed upon the regular, the beauti- 
ful, the shining heavenly body, whether it 

^* Adorns the eve, crushers in the morn." 
But to come down from the Empyrean to which. 



POETS. 167 

In contemplating the subject of poetry and its 
authors, I am otlten carried ; and to speak plain- 
ly of these writers, I think that they will not 
have occasion, in the end, to complain of the 
discussions of the public on their respective 
merits ; for there is no one person, in this com- 
munity, as there has been in England, at some 
periods in her history, who was the arbiter ele- 
gantiariim of the public, and from whose judg- 
ments it were in vain to appeal. 

The Rev. Mr. Upham, of New-Hampshire, 
has written enough to show that the fire of true 
poetry is within him, and it would not, we con- 
conceive, take either from the sanctity of his 
calling, or from the time that could be better 
occupied, if he were to indulge himself in a lit- 
tle devotion to poetry ; perhaps more true pie- 
ty has been conveyed in verse than in almost 
every other way. In the first place it is attract- 
ive, and will be read when graver discourses 
will not, and is remembered much longer than the 
same sentiment in prose. 

Halleck has been often before the public, in 
pieces of infinite wit and playfulness. There is 
a flow and ease of composition, probably in 
this, as in most other cases, the effect of great 
labour ; for I cannot conceive of ease being ac- 
quired in verse without it, which has distinguish- 



168 FOETS. 

ed him among his brethren. He has gathered 
up, or suffered somebody else, to collect a 
volume or two of his poems, and has not a few 
still floating in the journals of the day. His 
playful scraps are not inferior to Moore's, 
which have lately been collected by his poetical 
friends. I name this to show how difficult it 
is to succeed in wit and satire, especially if it 
assumes a playful manner. The grave rebuke 
is easy, but the ironical smile is of difficult at- 
tainment. It is a powerful and a dangerous 
weapon, and is apt to be freely used when the 
possessor is unconscious of its effects ; but I do 
not know that Mr. Halleck has used it on any 
but lawful subjects, and in a gentlemanly man- 
ner. His hit at the Percys was a fair one. 

Mr. Wells, of Boston, has been the success, 
ful writer for several prize odes and has nu- 
merous cups and pieces of plate as trophies of 
his muse. He is well read in English poetry 
and has a fine taste in it. His imagination is 
prolific, but he chastises his productions with 
the greatest scrupulosity. He comes from ac- 
tive business to his books, as an elegant amuse- 
ment, and not as the labour of life : this is the 
charm of letters, when they can be used as the 
ornaments of social intercourse and polished 
society, and the mind is improved and the dispo- 
sition sweetened by them in these hours which 



POETS. 169 

might otherwise be spent in trifling amusements, 
or idleness, which is still worse. It is one of 
the best proofs of the progress of refinement in 
this country that neither wealth, nor martial 
achievements are held in much estimation un- 
accompanied by respectable literary attain- 
ments, and a lady of ever so fine teeth, or 
beaming eyes, could hold her place as a belle 
not a moment after it was known that her pro- 
nunciation was vulgar, or her grammar bad. 

Mr. Sands is a poet of most exquisite taste. 
He wrote in connection with his friend Eastburn 
that beautiful Indian tale Yamoyden. It is a fine 
specimen of poetry. Mr. Sands is now quite 
devoted to letters, in some shape or other. His 
productions often adorn the annuals printed in 
this country, such as the Talisman, Souvenir, &;c. 
Wiiatever comes from his pen has the mark3 of 
mind and taste about it. He is now engaged 
in a biographical work of some importance, 
which will, no doubt, receive the justice it de- 
mands from his pen. Yamoyden is a poem 
which has been admired by the lettered and 
tasteful, but has not yet floated into that popu- 
lar current of distinction which it will inevitably, 
sooner or later find. Mr. Sands is a ripe scho- 
lar, familiar with all the best specimens of an- 
cient and modern poetry, and if his muse has a 
fault, it is that of being too fastidious and severe 



170 POETS. 

in her corrections of her own inspirations ; but 
this is so rare a fault in this country, where it 
must be confessed, you may find more genius 
than taste, that it should be forgiven for its sin- 
gularity. 

Among the most remarkable instances of pre-^:?^ 
cious talents and acquirements is James Nack 
the deaf and dumb poet of the city of New- York. 
He is now not far from twenty years of age, 
but as young as he is, he has written more vol- 
uminously than any poet among all those I have 
named. But only one volume of his works is 
as yet printed, though he has many manuscripts 
on hand which will probably see the light when 
he has become more known. This young man's 
growth has been most wonderful. He was born 
with perfect organs of hearing, and of speech, 
and retained them until he was nine years old, 
when by an accident his head was so crushed 
as to have destroyed his auditory nerves, and 
by degrees his faculty of speech was lost — a 
very natural consequence of his misfortune. His 
father had been unfortunate in business as a 
merchant in Nack's infancy, and he had no ad- 
vantages of schooling but what he picked up 
from his sisters, yet was considered a good rea- 
der at four years of age, and he had a passion, 
a very common one in forward children, of 
preaching — that is, in a solemn way, muttering 
over their fancies. A bright and observing 



POETS. ni 

child sees the great attention and reverence 
that is paid to the services of the clergyman, 
not only by his parents and his brothers and sis- 
ters, but by all in the church. He is taught 
that the speaker is a good man, and in the first 
awakenings of his mmd he attempts to imitate 
him. Nack had heard the singers in the church, 
and had caught something of the chiming of 
words, and once, being without a hymn book, he 
framed a couplet, for which he was applauded, 
and this encouraged him to make a few lines 
every day, and before he was in his ninth year 
he had a good knowledge of rhymth and rhyme 
from a cultivated ear. This he has so com- 
pletely kept in his memory that I question very 
much, whether there is any poet living who has 
a better knowledge of rhyming words in the 
English language than Nack. 

As soon as he recovered from the injury done 
to his head, as far as he ever recovered ; he was 
sent to the assylum for the deaf and dumb. But 
it is quite questionable whether the instructors 
of that excellent institution ever precisely un- 
derstood the bent and the extent of his genius. 

At about twelve years of age Nack wrote a 
tragedy ; this he destroyed ; but his mind at that 
time, was in one constant dramatic effort ; it 
was an expedient he resorted to, to get rid of 
the deep wretchedness he felt at being, as it 
were, left alone with himself to contemplate his 



172 POETS. 

misfortune in losing his hearing and speech. In 
the regions of imagination he was soothed, and 
warmed with all the dreamy delights to be found 
in such fairy land ; an expedient that riper 
minds have resorted to, to soften the agonies 
of the heart. 

The productions of his fourteenth year were 
numerous, but to use his own words " most of 
these have perished except two or three small 
pieces inserted in my published volume. Most 
of the minor pieces in that volume, were written 
in my fifteenth year, among which, those I am 
proudest of, are Blue eyed Maid, the Grave of 
Mary, and the Gallant Highland Rover." 

In his fifteenth year he wrote another trage- 
dy. It was written under peculiar circumstan- 
ces, at the early dawn of the morning in the 
winter season, in the garret where he lodged, 
without a spark of fire, and only a stump of a 
pen, and without a table, he stole the moments 
to write a long tragedy on his knees. He had 
no sooner finished than he concealed it, and has 
never suffered it to be seen. 

In his sixteenth year he wrote, with many 
other poems, that beautiful effort of genius, the 
Minstrel Boy. This came from his heart, and 
it reaches the heart of every reader. It has a 
deep tone of feeling, a sweetness of language 
and ease of versification that will secure its im- 
mortality. 



POETS. 173 

Until his sixteenth year he had never found 
any one who was capable of understanding his 
character, and of giving him advice and encour- 
agement united to friendship. It was then he 
began to feel the balmy soothings of kindness 
that came with advice and patronage. It was 
not until this period that he had found books, ex- 
cept by accident. He now was in the library 
of a gentleman of taste who was as kmd to him 
as a father. This situation opened a new world 
to him. He revelled in fresh delights ; devoured 
books upon poetry, history, philosophy, fiction, 
mathematics, politics, ethics, criticism, and the- 
ology, formed a thousand theories and tore them 
up, root and branch, for new creations ; and these 
again shared the same fate. He wrote, as well 
as read on all these subjects, and piled manu- 
script upon manuscript, which he sometimes 
viewed with all the rapture of genius, and then 
with freakish untowardness turned from his nu- 
merous progeny with loathing. With all the 
irritation of wounded sensibility he grows fever- 
ish over his reminiscences, and then again hur- 
ries on to perform some new task. He seems 
to have no dread of any labour, however severe 
it may be, if it will please a friend or come to 
any account for himself or others. 

His acquirements, at this early age, in the 
languages and all the branches of knowledge, 
ordinary, and extraordinary is superior to that of 
16 



174 POETS. 

any young man's of the same age I have ever 
met with. There is a strength and maturity 
about his mind not to be found in one who has 
had the use of his ears and toncrue. His criti- 
cisms have a sagacity and shrewdness unequal- 
ed by those who were critics long before he was 
born. He acquires a language with the most 
astonishing facility. No ©rre I ever knew, could 
do it v/ith the same readiness, exe<3pt the late 
learned orientalist, George Bethune English. 
Nack unites in a most astonishing degree those 
two seemingly inconsistent qinihiies restlessness 
and perseverance. He reat's, writes and does a!i 
things as though he had just breathed the Del- 
phi vapour, and perseveres as though he were 
chained to the spot by some talismanic power. 
He is a bunch of delicate fibres, too susceptible 
for composure, or rather of nerves, jarred to ag. 
ony, if struck by a rude hand. Poetical beings 
are often too sensitive when in possession of 
every natural property and gift, but when de- 
prived of the charms of hearing and speaking, 
the pulses of the heart seem to beat in our own 
sight, without even the thinest skin to hide them ; 
open to every blast of a cold and cruel world. 
But in a few years he will find things changing 
around him, and these youthful labours now 
viewed as useless, will become in his opinion, 
as the foundation stones of a goodly edifice in 
the fashioning of which ho has learnt the skill 



POETS. 175 

of a literary architect and acquired the strength 
to raise a temple of imperishable fani,e, for his 
own and his country's glory. 

The ladies of this country may justly put in 
their claims for distinction, in every path of lit- 
erature, but particularly in poetry. It is con- 
sidered among the elegant accomplishments of 
the age, and the great number who possess the 
talent prove that this is a land of pure etherial 
fancy, and correct taste. Mrs. Sigourney who 
was known as a poet, in. her maiden days, then. 
Miss Huntley, has not with the cares of her 
family, as is often the case with female musi- 
cians, or poets, neglected her devotions to the 
muse ; but has given the world other effusions 
since, marked with more strength and beauty 
than those which charmed all who read them, 
in her earlier days» There is a •sweetness, a 
depth of feeling, a grasp of thought, united with 
the most perfect care and elegance in her wri- 
tings, that shows she was intended to be con- 
spicuous among gifted minds, and an ornament 
to the virtuous as well as intellectual part of the 
community. From her residence of elegance 
and taste on the banks of the lovely Connecticut, 
she sends forth her minstrelsy, to guide the 
young and to delight the old, and to improve all 
ages ; may it be long before others shall supply 
her place ; may the flowers of her arbours bloom, 
and her harp be in tune, until nature shall re- 



176 POETS, 

quire that repose that philosophy contemplates 
with composure and religion with visions of hope 
and transport. 

Mks. Hale, who is now conducting a literary- 
periodical in Boston, has besides several respec- 
table works in prose, written many pieces of 
fine poetry. She is now in a circle of intelli- 
gence and taste, where her merits will be ack- 
nowledged. The muses may owe their birth to 
a village, and love to reside for a season amid 
sylvan scenes, but some Athens must be near 
for them to resort to occasionally, and receive the 
homage their inspirations deserve, and which it 
was never known that their modesty refused. 
Apollo must listen if the best song of the Nine 
is expected. 

It is a long time since the public have heard 
any thing from Mrs. Gilman, except her fame 
as the pride of the social circle, and the first in 
every charitable exertion, but it will be long be- 
fore the lovers of genuine pathos and poetry will 
forget ' Jephthah^s vow,^ byJMiss Howard. We 
hope the mild air of the south will not incline 
her to forget her early promise to her country, 
that such talents should not be hid. 

Mrs. Ware is the editor of the Bower of 
Taste, a periodical of reputation, printed in 
Boston, along side of Mrs. Hale's magazine. 



POETS. 177 

These rival ladies, I use the word in its primitive 
sense, divide a liberal patronage, in that city. 
She too, is a poet, and established her reputation 
by writing occasional hymns and odes, before 
she took the editor's chair, and came out as one 
of the literati by profession. There is ease, 
spirit and mind in her verse, and her prose is 
tasteful and elegant. The fact of these two ed- 
itors and that of there being so large a number 
of females who are writers, speak volumes for 
the advancement of education here. It is evi- 
dence of the polish and intelligence of a nation, 
that their females assist in directing the minds 
of the rising generation. The writings of Han- 
nah More, Joanna Baillie, Miss Lucy Aikin and 
Miss Mitford, with a host of others, are now, 
and for a long time have been, an honourable 
portion of English current literature which has 
found its way among the reading community, in 
the United States, 

Hannah Adams, Miss Sedgewick, Mrs. Childs 
(formerly Miss Francis,) Mrs. Willard and 
others have been eminently successful in lead- 
ing the youths of this country in the paths of 
knowledge. Acquainted with the infant mind, 
they early learnt the best methods of instilling 
virtuous principles, and making pure impres- 
sions, with the facts and reasoning that go to 
make up the mass of information which is pos- 
16* 



178 POETS. 

sessed in the maturity of the understanding. A 
sound principle, taught in the nursery, and af- 
terwards cherished in the domestic circle, seems 
written on the heart and brain together, and is 
seldom or never effaced. They may be obscu- 
red for a while by false doctrines and loose ha- 
bits, but they break out and shine again when 
these delusions have passed away. 

Of the male and female poets f have not given 
a tenth part of the names of those who have 
gained a considerable share of fame by their 
productions ; and there are many who write well 
for amusement, who will not avow their produc- 
tions. This is decidedly a land of poets as well 
as painters ; but it is strange that there should 
be so much written when authors are so wretch- 
edly paid for their labour. It is not strange 
that authors in this country are badly paid when 
the fact is known that about five hundred Eng- 
glish works are reprinted here a year. Some 
of them, are standard works, and of service in 
diffusing useful knowledge, but with these all 
the trashy novels, as well as the good ones are 
found. 



Z.ETTER XVZ. 



New.Yorh, , 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

I REGRET that you should have given so 
much credit to capt. Basil Hall's account of the 
people of the United States. There have been 
a race of wretched travellers from England 
whose works have passed among the people as 
honest chronicles, when they were, in truth, a 
tissue of falsehoods and absurdities. Ash was 
a miserable liar, and is not now believed by any 
one. Kendal had not the spirit of on old wo- 
man, and Miss Fanny Wright was a dreaming 
enthusiast when she gave an account of this 
country. Hall came to write a book and by his 
being a post capt. in the navy had access to 
good society ; but he was a wretched specimen 
of Enghsh manners. He attempted to be re- 
publican and was most insufferably vulgar. I 
have never met with a well bred Englisman in 
this country who was not ashamed of him, nor 
an American who did not despise him. 

Your alarm for the religious character of the 
United States is altogether unnecessary ; the 



IQO BASIL HALL. 

people, as a mass, are as truly religious, as any 
people in the world, and do as much for the 
support of it as any other people ; and in most 
cases, throughout the whole country, the pay of 
the clergy is from voluntary taxation. The va- 
rious creeds professed have but little influence 
en the public morals, because good moral con- 
duct is either the basis, or a prime ingredient, 
in all the creeds. A good patriot, when he 
sees any religious sect doing justly and walkmg 
humbly, does not quarrel with them for shades 
of difference between them and himself in reli- 
gious belief. The impression you have of the 
influence of Mr. Owen and his disciples, is alto- 
gether erroneous. You get a wrong statement 
from the two parties who talk the most about it. 
The followers of Owen are enthusiastic in all 
they do and say ; and their accounts of their 
success cannot be depended upon, even to the 
slightest detail ; they see every thing as reform- 
ers, and turn it all to their advantage. If 
you were to listen to them, you would sup- 
pose that the reign of reason, after their fashion, 
had come, and all superstition and priestcraft 
were falling into the dust at once, and an exalt- 
ed moral feeling and principle was directly to 
take the place of ignorance and debasement. If, 
on the other hand, you should hear the timid and 
scrupulous portion of the community, you would 
think the altars of true religion were at once to 



OWEN, «&c. 181 

be overthrown, and the reign of infidelity and 
libertinism were to ensue. 

Hall thought that he had acquired more in- 
formation than all his predecessors, and should 
be enabled to enlighten all his countrymen 
respecting this country ; for he assumed to think 
deeply on all subjects ; but you can hardly 
find a book containing more charlatanry than his 
in all the bookstores in England. 

I went last evenings to the Hall of Science, as 
it is called, to hear and see Misy Fanny Wright. 
She was to deliver one of her lectures on Know- 
ledge. She is a tall, bony woman, of a good 
countenance, and not an ungraceful person. Her 
style of elocution is imposing. She speaks as 
one conscious of high mental powers, and as one 
believin<y that she was born for a reformer. She 
has nothing, however, of novelty in her theory. 
She said what Mary Woolstoncraft had said 
before she was heard of, in a more fascinating, if 
not in so logical a manner. She inveighed against 
the established order of things, as if the whole 
world were deceived and led blindfolded by 
rulers, judges, divines, and pretended moralists, 
of all classes. I have a full belief that the mis- 
taken woman is sincere in her creed, if creed it 
can be called that denounces all creeds, human 
and divine. But she propagates error under the 
guise of doing good, and sows the seed of moral 
evil under the lofty pretensions of eradicating 



182 OWEN, &c. 

fixed and settled errors. A misguided multitude 
follow her ; some honest dupes, but more dis- 
honest mal-contents are in her train. She at- 
tacks the altar of God as though it were an al- 
tar of Baal ; and solemnly pronounces the whole 
profession of priests a race of hypocrites. 
There were many things in her lecture that 
were very good, if they were unconnected with 
the vile slanders she so shanjelessly uttered. 
Her whole course of conduct shows that she is 
both ambitious and benevolent ; and she thinks 
that she hides the former under the mantle of 
the latter ; but in this she is as silly as the os- 
trich, who thinks herself concealed, when she 
has only hid her head. To see a man in the 
profligacy of a coarse, strong and misguided in- 
tellect, railing at religion and trampling upon 
every thing sacred, is painful enough ; but to 
behold a woman, of a refined education, fitted 
for all the charities of life, so far unsex herself 
as to promulgate doctrines, that bring down the 
pride of female virtue, and place every one of 
her sex on a par with the impure and wicked, is 
too painful to dwell upon. This misguided wo- 
man is now followed and cheered by those who 
are at war with the established order of things; 
but the most will drop off, one after another ; 
and the probability is, that she will find herself, 
in her old age, deserted by those who once af- 
fected to admire her, and be left to mourn over 



OWEN, &c. 183 

her worse than useless life ; then she will see 
the difference between philosophical benevo- 
lence and Christian charity ; the one is stained 
with the filthy currents of this world, and par- 
takes deeply of the nature of the earth, while 
the other is illumined by the light above, and 
grows brighter and stronger as its burthens in- 
crease. Such spirits as Fanny Wright are 
blessings in disguise. If there was nothing to 
alarm the city, the watchmen would sleep on 
their posts. Our spiritual watchmen are but 
men, and they require to be alarmed by some 
symptoms of danger to keep them awake. A 
rude attack may make them more united; a 
charge brought against them for want of con- 
cord, may teach them to move in more harmo- 
ny. From evil, good may come. Moral evil 
is, perhaps, as necessary to fulfil the designs of 
Heaven, as natural evil. Fire, flood, pestilence, 
and war, are all instruments in the hands of a 
just God, for wise purposes, and why not a re- 
viler of his nature and government? 

There is a most active spirit abroad in the 
cause of benevolence and religion ; it pervades 
every part of this country ; large sums are 
yearly collected for all the purposes of enlight- 
ening the rising generation ; Bibles and good 
books are put into the hands of all classes of 
the people, and it is a prevailing fashion in the 
upper circles to know something of the Scrip- 



1Q4 OWEN, &c. 

tures. Men now discuss the subject of divinity 
as well as others, and form their own opinions 
upon these weighty matters ; and while child- 
ren are taught theology in the nursery, and the 
philosopher is as much pleased with the subject 
as the priest, there can be no just fears from a 
few specious reformers', who make themselves 
conspicuous by their blasphemies, rather than 
from their reasoning powers. Ever since I 
have looked on men, I have never known it 
fail, that the blasphemous "were in the end de- 
serted, and their names held in abhorrence. The 
Sunday Schools, which are established in all parts 
of this country, and are so numerous that their 
honest register seems to stagger all belief, are 
soon to be the greatest moral engine, next to 
that of permanent day schools, that civilization 
has ever devised. A thousand false teachers of 
infidelity cannot withstand the force of these 
modes of instructing the youthful mind. These 
false teachers may seem to have great influence 
with the people ; but it must be remembered, 
that the sincere followers of such lecturers as 
Owen and Fanny Wright, are those who have 
long been infidels ; the rest of the audience are 
made up of those who are curious to hear all 
things, but are not converts, or likely to be ; 
or those whom idleness, or accident, throw in 
by way of amusement ; and it is not to this latter 
class the difference of a pin's fee whether they 



OWEN, &c. 185 

take a lounge into the theatre, fall into a gam- 
bling room, or stroll up to the Hall of Science, to 
hear the female orator. They must have some- 
thing to amuse themselves with, and a female 
preacher is as good as any thing else. It would 
be wrong to infer their depravity from the place 
where they happened to be seen. To the hon- 
our of the females of the United States, it should 
be said that they have given no encouragement 
to Miss Wright or her doctrines. You might 
follow her from one part of the country to ano- 
ther, and you will not find that she is protected 
by any portion of the female community. It is 
possible that now and then one or two women, 
either careless of their reputation, or urged by 
insatiable curiosity, may have been seen among 
her audience ; but I have never known an in- 
stance. The females of the United States are, 
in general, well educated, and in some portions 
of the country highly so. And I have never 
known more than a half dozen female infidels 
in my long acquaintance here. 



17 



ZiETTSSn xvn. 



New. York, — ^ , 1830. . 

Dear Sir, 

Having glanced at a few of the poets, 
perhaps you will expect me to say something of 
the painters. Those who have passed off the 
stage have found historians, who, if they have 
not done them justice, have, certainly, had oppor- 
tunities to speak of them more particularly than 
I can, in these familiar letters to a friend. As all 
artists belong to a nation and not to particular 
cities, I shall not take any pains to name them 
with any territorial reference, any farther than 
as citizens of this country. If one place claims 
their birth, another may have called forth their 
talents, and the patron is often better to an ar- 
tist, than a parent. 

DuNLAP, to use a Yankee phrase, is one of 
those artists who started from his own head. He 
began by copying some prints in India ink, and 
then proceeded in painting portraits in Crayons. 



PAINTERS. 187 

In 1783 he painted General Washington and his 
lady, who sat to him at head quarters, Rocky 
Hill, New. Jersey, when the self taught artist 
was only seventeen years of age. These were 
so much extolled, considering the youth of the 
artist, that in 1784 he was sent to England to 
study his art, and on this adventure, for it was 
indeed a great one, he received the attentions of 
Mr. West. On returning to this country, in 1787, 
he gave up his profession and began mercantile 
pursuits. He early discovered a literary taste, 
which in fact is almost indivisible from a taste for 
painting. In 1789 he wrote a tragedy ; " The 
Father of an only child." This was brought out 
immediately and was very successful. This led 
him to an intimate acquaintance with theatrical 
people, who induced him to enter into dramatic 
speculations, as a manager and author, and 
which ended as such speculations generally do, 
in the loss of all the cash a man has when he 
commences ; but as he was honest and honoura- 
ble, and more sinned against than sinning, he 
had no great difficulty in settling up, and begin- 
ning anew. In 1808, he assumed the pencil as 
a miniature painter, and followed this branch of 
the art with success, but was induced by the 
friendly offers of Cooper, the tragedian, then in 
the zenith of his fame, to take a department in the 
management of a theatre in New-York ; but af- 
ter two or three years he grew tired of that, and 



188 PAINTERS. 

took up his pencil again as a miniature painter. 
Stuart saw the cleverness of the artist and ad- 
vised him to try oil ; and his advice was follow- 
ed, and with great success ; but soon after this 
time Dunlap received the appointment of depu- 
ty pay master general in the militia of the state 
of New-York. It was a busy office, as the troops 
were in arms on the seaboard and frontiers, and 
allowed him no time for his professional pur- 
suits. In 1816, he returned to the arts he had 
left, and from which he had so often played tru- 
ant, and commenced anew, with youthful vigour 
and delight and has ever since been constant to 
the Muses. 

Since that time he has been most industrious, 
and besides a great number of portrait and fan- 
cy pieces, he has produced four great histori- 
cal pictures. The first was Christ disputing 
with the doctors in the temple. This was so 
much admired that he was induced to try his 
hand again, and Christ rejected was his next. 
This was indeed a great effort, it is a sublime 
subject. The great masters of a religious age 
had devoted painful years to scripture delinea- 
tions, and while ponderous tomes of divinity, as 
it is called, have sunk into the dust, those splen- 
did etTorts of human genius have survived as 
models and lessons to this, and, will descend, to 
future generations. This is indeed an epic la- 
bour ; hundreds of figures appear on the canvassj 



PAINTERS. 1S9 

and most of these full of history. Dunlap had 
never seen West's great picture ; he had only- 
read his outline. It is quite a different thing in 
design, and a judicious critic might, we think, say- 
that in many points of his picture he has been 
quite equal to that great master. The angelic 
composure of Christ in Dunlap's picture, has, in 
my mind, as much truth to nature, as the down- 
cast countenance of " the man of sorrows,''^ ex- 
hibited in West's. We prefer to see his divine, 
rather than his human nature, in every exhibi- 
tion of our Saviour ; but -vve will not dwell on 
this or any other point in the picture ; the sub- 
ject is one of eternal interest, and will for ever 
employ the pen, the pencil, and the tongue of 
fire of the most gifted of the human race. The 
next was the bearing of the Cross ; — this was 
full of holy feeling. The fourth was Death on 
the Pale Horse. West had done the same, but 
we have no hesitation in saying that in many- 
points Dunlap has the advantage of West : we 
mean, particularly, in colouring. The fifth Cal- 
vary ; this picture is all original, as in fact the 
others are in most of their features. It was a re- 
mark made by an American lady of taste which 
is founded on truth, that the more we see of 
the historical pictures of the great masters of 
Europe, the more we value the productions of 
Trumbull, AUston, Dunlap, and others we have 
eeen brought out among ourselves. 
17* 



190 PAINTERS. 

Diinlap has been distinguished as an author, 
as well as a painter. He has figured in biogra- 
phy as well as in the drama. He was admired 
among the scholars of an age gone by, and is 
honoured by the present, as a man of genius 
and of taste, and it is no easy matter to keep up 
with the march of improvement at this time. He 
has reared a monument to Brown the novelist, 
to Cook the tragedian, and to others of less 
note. May he be rewarded according to his 
deeds. 

Sargent's picture of The landing of the 
Pilgrims was, I speak in the past tense, for 1 un- 
derstand that it was destroyed by some accident, 
much admired in its day by the descendants 
of the pilgrims, and spoken well of by those who 
did not feel any extraordinary sympathy for that 
race of men. The event of the landing of those 
few wanderers had nothing in it of very great 
sublimity or interest when taken by itself, un- 
connected with the past or the future in relation 
to that period. A handful of adventurers setting 
foot on an inhospitable shore, in an inclement sea- 
son is, no doubt, a subject of sympathy, but not 
of wonder. The appearance of a northern sky 
in such a season of the year was a fine object 
for the painter, and Sargent availed himself of 
it. He was northern-born and had lived, for the 
usual months in the year, under such a sky as 



PAINTERS. 



191 



our forefathers first saw on their first landing, a 
freezing atmosphere, rocks, ground, all covered 
with a mantle of snow, while a low and sickly- 
looking sun threw a Cew faint rays on the iron- 
bound, frost-bound coast. The dignity of the 
group was conspicuous in the picture. All they 
had suffered, all they were prepared to sufl^er, 
and what they hoped to efl:ect, was well con- 
ceived and defined in the painting. The pious, 
providence -trusting, resigned look, was there 
also. A little of the soldier was still seen in 
Miles Standish — yea, more of it than of the 
saint. The females were well displayed ; not 
with Amazonian hardihood and fearless look ; 
but yet there was no timidity, no shrinking 
weakness, no dread of the savages, nor of a 
more appalling foe ; a long and dreary winter, 
without house or home, or any shelter for them- 
selves or their little ones. They stood, they 
looked, they went forward, as those who believe 
that they have a God for their protector. That 
painter is good for nothing who cannot impress 
us with the moral sublimity of virtue, and give 
us the majesty of religion, with all her sweet- 
ness. There is a spirit of prophecy in the 
hearts of the good in every undertaking, which 
if it has no defined views, no tongue, but only 
speaking looks, yet it lives and dwells in every 
vein, and kindles in every eye, and has full pos- 
session of the soul, as certain as the soul has an 



292 TAINTERS. 

existence ; and the painter of this picture had 
genius enough to seize the thought and make 
the best of it. 

The next picture, from the same artist, was 
Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. This 
was also a popular picture. It Avas remarkable 
for variety in the expression of the countenance 
of the Hosannah-crying multitude. The face of 
the Saviour is wonderfully fine. An Indian 
chief once viewing the picture in the presence 
of the author of these remarks, looking stedfast- 
ly in the face of our Saviour, said, emphatically, 
that is a good man. The last and only remain- 
ing picture I know from Sargent, is the Dinner 
Party ; a specimen of the extraordinary power 
of light and shade ; to exhibit which seems the 
great object of the artist in this painting. Sar- 
gent formerly took several portraits which were 
praised for their spirit and exactness. 

Vanderlyn's paintings have attracted the at- 
tention of the lovers of the arts, both here and 
on the other side of the water. His Ariadne is 
an exquisite painting. It is the semblance of 
enamoured beauty, in dreaming innocence. The 
sleeping princess seems to glow with visions of 
eternal love, while her faithless spouse is steal- 
ing away like a thief from the shores of Naxos, 
and tarnishing by his perfidy the glories of his 
adventures. Thirty centuries are lost in con- 



PAINTERS. 193 

templating this picture. The mind of the spec- 
tator is impressed with the whole scene as if the 
present was the precise hour of her desertion, 
and feels all the passion of love and grief and 
resentment, crowding upon his heart, as he ga- 
zes upon the sleeping beauty ; and seems to 
dread that she should awake in his presence, to 
realize and bewail her misfortunes, before he has 
quitted the scene. Such is the power of the 
artist. 

Marius on the ruins of Carthage is from the 
same hand. The savage pride of the great Ro- 
man general, nursing himself with nigh resolves, 
drawing aliment for the concentrated energies 
of his soul from the awful ruins around him, and 
looking, feeling, and expressing, by his very si- 
lence, the eternal truth of the indestructibility 
of mind ; that mind, which in him, no misfor- 
tunes could subdue. 

The panorama of the Garden of Versailles is a 
work of a different kind, but of great merit. 
Those who have visited the place say that the 
faithfulness of the picture is admirable ; and 
certain it is that the beauty of the light and 
shade is hardly to be equalled. This painting 
has been exhibited in several of our cities, with 
great success. The artist is now engaged in a 
panoramic view of the falls of Niagara, AH 
former attempts to convey on canvass this sublime 
scene in nature, have fallen short of even majes* 



194 PAINTERS. 

ty ; and all I have seen did not show any of that 
terrific grandeur which belongs to the subject. 
The occasional war of the elements, as exhibited 
in tornadoes or volcanoes, have often been sue 
cessfully represented by the pencil ; but such a 
perpetual display of the v/onderful works of Om- 
nipotence, as the rising and setting of the sun, 
and the eternal agitation of the ocean, are not 
within the capacities of the painter. By great 
effort, he may bring to your own recollection 
the images that have been there before ; but his 
powers add nothing to them. These are sub- 
jects for the muse of poetry, not of painting ; 
and if his attempt is successful, in any conside- 
rable measure, as his friends say that it will be, 
he will have added to the capacities of his art, 
and secured his immortality. 

Washington Allston, now of Boston was a 
native of Carolina, and received his education 
at Harvard College, where he graduated in 
1800. His taste led him to think of painting as 
a profession. Soon after leaving college, he 
hastened to Europe, and commenced his pupil- 
age with the zeal of youthful genius. In the 
bosom of the arts he became known as a man 
of promise, and his fame often came across the 
Atlantic to raise the expectations of his country- 
men. They were not disappointed ; he return- 
ed with a mind enriched by travel and obser- 



Painters. 



195 



vation, without any diminution of his character 
or simplicity of his manners. In Boston he sat 
down to his profession, and every production of 
his pencil was anticipated with painful anxiety ; 
not from apprehensions of disappointment in the 
work, but from the intense desire of being grati- 
fied with the sight of his productions. He is 
above the envy of his compeers ; for he comes 
in competition with no one. The fashionable 
world has no charm for him, and he is never 
found in its circks. A little coterie of dear 
friends is his passion, and his hours of relaxation 
are spent with them ; but in these hours he is 
exact and systematic. It is true of him, that he 
flatters no one, abuses no one, nor is found in 
the train of any one. He has truly an inde- 
pendent mind, without one particle of the mo- 
roseness which often accompanies that godliH 
virtue. He seeks no idol of the day for patron- 
age and praise, nor follows in the train of a reign, 
ing belle to catch an approving smile, which on 
the morrow may lead others to seek him : no, 
for he feels a security in his own fame, that re- 
quires no such momentary aid ; his reputation 
will be increasing when the politician's fame ia 
blown away by some new burst of infernal smohCy 
and the beauty is no longer remembered. He 
has that popularity that follows merit ; he wants 
not that which is sought for by conforming to 
the lights and shades of the hour ; nor did Alls- 



196 PAINTERS. 

ton ever complain for want of patronage ; his 
productions being promised as soon as commen- 
ced. I have seen but three from his pencil — 
Elijah fed by the ravens in the wilderness — Jere- 
miah in prison, dictating his prophecies to Baruch 
his scribe — and the dead man into whose grave 
the body of Elijah was cast, waking into life. 
These have been seen by a good portion of 
those who have any taste for the fine arts, in the 
several great cities in the United States, and 
their merits thoroughly examined. The first, 
Elijah fed by the ravens, is marked by the boldest 
scenery. The Judean mountains seemed fitted 
for the abode of prophecy. It is more natural 
and more sublime to place the voice of inspira- 
tion among the deep caverns and strong shades 
of the mountains, than by fountains or caves in 
the sunny fields of cultivation. Allston has 
caught the true philosophy to nurse his genius 
by the perpetual contemplation of those scenes 
and events, in the revelations of God to man, in 
which the power of God-head, transcending his 
natural laws, is visible and unquestionable. His 
two other works are of the same class, drawn 
from the same source. Such a cause admits 
every variety of talent and demands every 
extent of power. The picture of the hand 
writing on the wall, the appearance of which 
has long been expected and so much desired, 
is oi the same character. 



PAINTERS. 197 

Until within a few years past, our artists had 
to find their way entirely alone. They had no 
concert, no associations for mutual aid, and mu- 
tual instruction ; they had no place for the ex- 
hibition of their productions ; they were seen 
by chance ; and the fame of most of the paint- 
ers depended upon ignorant admiration, or ill- 
natured criticisms, even perhaps less intelligent. 
Ordinary reputation will always be local ; but 
then it often happened that those ofa higher grade 
found their fame not more extended, and proba- 
bly not so distinctly allowed when it was known, 
as those of no solid merits. Academies and ex- 
hibition rooms, which have been got up in our 
principal cities, within a few years past, give 
the youthful aspirant for fame a chance of being 
known, and of having his merits justly appre- 
ciated. In New-York an Academy of Design has 
been established, and a distinguished artist put 
at the head of it. Mr. Morse has been known 
to the public as a painter for some years. His 
Dying Hercules was considered a good speci- 
men of drawing, as well as colouring. He has, 
like many of our painters, been chiefly employ- 
ed in taking portraits ; but his taste and talent, 
I should think, would lead him to historical 
painting : but what was more immediately in 
my mind is, that he has commenced a course of 
lectures on his art ; the first, probably, that has 
been undertaken in this country. From what I 
18 



108 PAINTERS. 

have read of them, I think there can be no doubt 
pf their utility and success. He matures his 
subject well, and gives it those minute finishings 
which make the. great charms of the writers of 
the classical ages. The bold truths and start- 
ling positions, so much the fashion of the present 
age among men of genius, will pass away and 
be forgotten, when the more natural, and, at 
first, less attractive productions of taste, will be 
fresh and increasing in value. The polished 
lectures of Sir Joshua Reynolds will ap- 
pear in new and s.pjendid editions, when those 
of Fusilli, full of gigantic throes of thought and 
night-mare figures of rhetoric, will only be found 
in the libraries of the curiouSo To aid Morse, 
there came many young men of merit. A word 
must answer for them ; and as they are now in 
the glorious career of emulation, vadding to their 
fame every passing day, this course, perhaps, is 
best. To make only a few remarks on them, is 
not to say they do not deserve much ; but is only 
saying that, as yet, they are striving for the 
mastery, and their comparative merits are not 
as yet decided. 

B. W. WiER is a historical painter, he spent 
some time in Italy in pursuit of bis art, with a 
most perfect devotion to it. Ke is delicate and 
elaborate in his finishings, and every thing from 
his pencil shows, that with the elements of a 



PAINTERS. 199 

great painter he has the industry that ensures 
success. In colouring, he imitates the Venetian 
masters, and the effect is often delightful. He 
is yet young, and the country has much to ex- 
pect from him. 

C. Ingham, is a portrait and historical pain- 
ter ; he has made many fine portraits for the 
exhibition room. His colouring is admirable ; 
his finishing finely minute. His female heads 
of taste and fashion, in high dress, have been 
the admiration of men of judgment, not only in 
this city, but in other cities, where they could 
not have been influenced by the social and vir- 
tuous qualities of the individual. The talents of 
the artist could alone have been the foundation 
of their opinions. 

T. C. CuMMiNGs is a miniature nainter, and 
possesses a good share of capacity in his line ; 
and it is a branch of difficult attainment. His 
sketches are full of life — mind and spirit seems 
to awake in his most shadowy lines. 

H. Inman, a portrait and historical painter, is 
a great favourite in New-York. He is not more 
than twenty-four or five years old, and yet he has 
attained to an honourable eminence in his pro- 
fession. His compositions are bold in design, 
and happy in effect. He never seems to think 



200 PAINTERS. 

of a difficulty in his art, and seldom does he 
meet one. His colouring is remarkably fine, 
and all speak of him as full of still greater pro- 
mise, while they are admiring what he has al- 
ready done. This is unforced praise from them, 
for he has no management in eliciting admira- 
tion and praise ; it comes from his labours alone. 

A. B. DuRAND is a landscape painter, and 
would be very clever in this branch, if his pre-em- 
inent talents as an engraver did not put him as a 
pp.inter, in the back ground. His productions are 
in every work of standard taste and talents pub- 
lished in this country. I have many of his works 
in my mind which are exquisite, but as they are 
not before me, I shall refrain from mv criticisms 
for fear of not doing justice to his merits. 

G. AV. Hatch is in the same line as Durand, 
and has given the most astonishing proofs of 
genius. A distinguished artist, on seeing some 
of his productions, and understanding to what 
age he only had attained, observed, *' I know 
not to what eminence this young man may not 
aspire if his life is spared.^' 

Bennet is one of this gifted society, and 
uses his pencil or his graver as occasion re- 
quires with ease and talent. 



PAINTER S. 

There are others of reputation in their pro- 
fessions who may not be connected with any as- 
sociations for the improvement in the arts. Fro- 
thingham, a self-taught artist, is an excellent por- 
trait painter, who has laboured along with every 
difficulty, but who has now reached a stand that 
will insure profitable business. He began his 
career near Boston, where Stuart was in full bu- 
siness, and if he cannot be said to be a pupil of 
that great artist, he certainly has caught much of 
his manner. The public have been gratified 
this year by seeing some of the specimens of his 
pencil. The engravings of the heads of Bishop 
Cheverus, and the Rev. Doctor Channing, with 
others, have given Hoogland an enviable repu- 
tation as an artist. Indeed, one might continue 
until a volume might be written on the works 
of the clever artists now in the active pursuit of 
fame and emolument. There is no want of ta. 
lent in any department of the arts or sciences, 
or in any walk of literature in this country ; pa- 
tronage alone is wanted to fill the principal ci- 
ties with the first rate proficients. 

So much has been done for the advancement 
of female education among us that in almost 
every walk of life, the women of this coun- 
try, have claims for distinction. We have named 
a feW of those who, possessing a good share of 
poetical talent, or are known in the groves of 
18* 



202 PAINTERS. 

learning ; we will mention a few also who are 
distinguished as painters. Our ladies are as 
yet mostly amateurs, a few only have made 
the art a profession. Among the amateurs, and 
probably first among them, or female profes- 
sional painters, is Mrs. L. Russel, formerly 
Miss Smith, daughter of B. Smith, Esq. of Bos- 
ton ; she is indeed a most talented woman, but I 
am not now attempting to describe her general 
scope of intellectual acquirements, but it is as a 
oainter only I mention her. She, early in life, 
discovered a partiality for drawing, and instead 
of always copying the lessons of her master, she 
boldly designed for herself, to the admiration of 
her acquauitances, A long residence in Eu- 
rope, particularly in France, gave her fair op- 
portunity of improving her skill and refining her 
taste in the art. 

Some copies she made while she was in Eu- 
rope from the works of the masters, astonished 
the modern professors, and while they wondered 
at her production, would not be persuaded that 
she was a native of the new world, and not one 
reared in the bosom of the arts. She has taken 
several fine portraits of her friends. One of 
John Adams, which, allowing for a little of the 
female and the friend which is thrown into the 
picture, is most excellent^ and certainly the 
next to Stuart's of any one I have ever seen of 
this venerable patriot. There is a freedom of 



PAINTERS. 203 

pencil and brilliancy of colouring in her paint- 
ings rarely equalled in this country, so prolific 
in painters of great merit. She is to our great 
painters what Lord Lyttleton was to Pope among 
the poets — an amateur and proficient of exqui- 
site taste, who did not wish to rank among the 
poets ; this, however, was forbidden by the just 
laws of Parnassus, and he was put in the cata- 
logue of British Bards, so must she among the 
painters. Had Mrs. Russel continued her la- 
bours, or amusements, call it what you please, 
we too should have had an Angelica Hoffman. 

Miss Jane Stuart, a daughter of the vete- 
ran painter of that name, early discovered marks 
of genius in the art. She had made considera- 
ble progress in her studies before her father knew 
her talent in this way. She copied her father's 
paintings as often as she had opportunities, and 
with great success. Her friends persuaded her 
to attempt original pictures ; and encouraged 
by their kindness and patronage, she ventured to 
receive now and then a sitter, and was quite suc- 
cessful. She is now engaged in the profession, 
and discovers much of her father's manner, and 
no small share of his spirit. Encouraged by 
the munificent and intelligent patrons of her fa- 
ther, with industry and patient labour, she will, 
without doubt, be a first rate portrait painter. 

Miss Goodrich, of Connecticut, has been a 



204 PAINTERS. 

miniature painter for several years, and some of 
her likenesses are said to be very fine ; particu - 
larly of ladies. She, as well as those we have men- 
tioned, is an estimable woman, as well as a fine 
artist. In addition to these there are a great num- 
ber of ladies who excel in landscape and ornamen- 
tal painting, and several have succeeded in Li- 
thographic drawing, who are unwilling to make 
their merits known to the public. There are 
branches of this art for which the retired life of 
many of the ladies in this country is well fitted 
to cultivate, and as the country grows in wealth, 
a taste for the fine arts will increase, and then 
those high accomplishments may be made, when 
necessary, a source of emolument far greater. 



I.ETT3ESR ^V^ttt. 



New. York, , 1830, 

Dear Sir, 

I WAS yesterday introduced to the Ly- 
ceum of this city by one of its principal mem- 
bers, Dr. De Kay, whose urbanity, intelhgence 
and devotedness to literary and scientific pur- 
suits, are well known in this city. The subjects 
of natural history are admirably arranged, and 
scientifically classed ; but as you are much bet- 
ter acquainted with all these matters than I am, 
I shall hasten to the authors and builders of these 
institutions rather than dwell on the minute rela- 
tions of their extent or excellence. 

In one of the rooms of the Lyceum are seve- 
ral large cases, marked with the name of Doctor 
Samuel L. Mitchell, which is as familiar to you on 
the other side of the Atlantic as with us, on this ; 
for he has received academic honours from every 
literary and scientific institution, I believe, of 
note in the world ; and the Doctor himself is less 
understood than any other man living. Some 
have laughed at him as a credulous, rhapsodical 
lover of learning, but without much true science, 



206 DR. MITCHELL. 

and entirely destitute of judgment and common 
sense. Others, and particularly those in fo- 
reign countries, hail him as the most learned man 
in America ; for they have received more infor- 
mation from him than from others, and it is na- 
tural they should suppose that he was truly at 
the head of our savans and literati. The Doc 
tor has analysed every thing which has been 
brought forward for nearly half a century past, 
in matter and mind ; and he cannot complain 
if he should now be analyzed himself. In 
that part of his character which assures a man 
true respect and affection from those around 
him, a kind disposition and a benevolent heart, 
and a life of charitable deeds, the Doctor has 
nothing to fear from any scrutiny. But to com- 
mence as the moral anatomist, upon his capaci- 
ties, powers and organizations, it may be said 
that his memory is wonderful, and he has stored 
up an immense accumulation of facts in every 
art and science, and every incident in history ; 
not contented with this, he never suffers a fact, 
or circumstance, which he has taken pains to 
treasure in his memory, to be there alone ; but 
he makes a minute of it on paper, and puts that 
in a pigeon-hole, to answer as a voucher to his 
memory, if that should fail him, or be doubted 
by himself or others. From these methods he 
has obtained advantages over most men, in fact, 
I might say, over any one I ever knew. He has 



DR. MITCHELL. 207 

not only been industrious in this accumulation 
of valuable materials, but his mind has been ac- 
tive in reasoning upon them. He is happy in 
great quickness of perception, and falls more 
naturally into a train of correct reasoning, than 
those who labour ever so hard for it. He de- 
scribes with great ease, and often most felici- 
tously. If his style is sometimes tainted with a 
little vanity, it bears no marks of arrogance. 
It is true that he never fears to meet a subject, 
however novel, and it is true that he seldom 
touches one without giving it some new grace 
or ornament. He is equally happy in giving 
names as characteristics. A monster of the 
ocean unknown, and of course unnamed by an- 
cients or moderns, some ten years ago was 
caught in our waters ; the Doctor saw, dissect- 
ed it, and named it " the Vampire of the 
ocean ;" and I challenge the lovers of Buffon to 
produce a more accurate, lively, and philoso- 
phical description in all that admired author's 
works, than was given of this anomaly. The 
Doctor is called credulous ; indeed he is ; but 
his is not the credulity of wondering igno- 
rance, that knowing nothing, believes every 
thing ; whose imagination makes hobgoblins and 
*' chimeras dire ;" and fears the powers of fiends, 
because he knows nothing of angelic natures. 
The Doctor's credulity, in all the wonders of 
creation, is like that charged by the noble Fes. 



208 DR. MITCHELL. 

tus upon Paul — " much learning makes thee 
mad :" by which madness was meant an un- 
bounded credulity in believing a newly promul- 
gated religion, which was to the wise a stumbling 
block and to the Greeks foolishness. The Doc- 
tor's credulity arose from knowing more than 
other men. He was acquainted vvith the laws 
of nature, and knew not where to fix her bounds. 
He saw that she was carrying on innumerable 
processes, in an immense laboratory, and could 
not say what she might not produce next. If 
he who knows but little is credulous, he who 
knows much is more so. About forty years 
since, a wise father, whose son had been in In- 
dia, heard his accounts of certain religionists of 
that country, suspending themselves with hooks 
thrust through the flesh or the ribs, and swing- 
ing for hours in the air, said, " My dear son, I 
believe your narrative fully, because you have been 
taught to tell the truth ; but do not repeat the story , 
for others will not believe you ; it is too much for 
them to credit ; ivait a while, and others will tell 
the tale, and you may confirm it ; / will assure you 
it is dangerous to be a discoverer ;" — and the 
friends of Fulton begged of him not to persist in 
his speculations on the use of steam engines. 
Such credulity as Dr. Mitchell possesses, has 
been the promoter of all that is useful in the arts 
and sciences. Tecumseh said to an Indian 
agent, " You tell me that you know how many 



DR. MITCHELL. 209 

siei:)s it is round this earth, and you never crossed 
the mountains ! Tell me who is the mother of all 
the rivers ; how deep is the sea ; and when the sun 
will grow old J and die, liJie my forefathers ; I will 
then believe that you can tell me how long my arms 
must he to embrace my mother earih.^' The agent 
replied, " I can tell you when yon moon shall 
hide her head, and become dark ; and you will 
see the darkness come on ; and all yon tribes 
shall see it also." The wondering savage 
seized the thought, and bought the secret ; fore- 
told the eclipse to his followers ; this increased 
their confidence in him ; the eclipse happened ; 
his fame was established ; and he threatened the 
agent and astronomer, from whom he obtained 
the secret, with death, if he was not out of his 
reach forthwith. The moral is at hand ; ma- 
ny a one has availed himself of the Doctor's 
information, calculations, and conjectures, and 
tried to hide his own ignorance in abusing the 
source from whence his knowledge flowed. 
There is a vanity, however, in human nature, 
which the good Doctor has a share of; that is, 
a desire of having a reputation for knowing al- 
most all things ; yet it must be confessed, that 
the Doctor's manner is modest enough. 

The Doctor has been charged with enthusi- 
asm. He is enthusiastic ; but it is that ardour of 
mind that wishes to raise the standard of know- 
ledge above what it is in this country, which 
19 



210 DR« MITCHELL. 

is, indeed, a pardonable enthusiasm. Nothing 
good or great was ever achieved without it. It 
is the " dwine inflation^^ which swells the bo- 
soms of the gods of knowledge, when they la- 
bour for the sons of men. 

The Doctor is not only credulous, inquisiiivey 
enthusiastic, but amhilious. He wishes this coun- 
try to be the first on earth, and himself the first 
in the country. This is fair ; and if he fails in 
either, after having made the struggle to bring 
about his wishes, who will say that the attempt 
was not a noble one ? Give us more such ambi- 
tious men as Sir Humphry Davy, such credu- 
lous ones as Columbus and Fulton, and you may 
cover-them with the names o^ enthusiasts, dupes, 
and insane men, and every other epithet that 
ignorance and dulness can pick up, or mouth, 
after some disappointed rival has once spoken it. 

There is another sin the Doctor has long been 
guilty of ; and that is, the sin o^ perseverance 
in attempting to enlighten mankind, after scio- 
lists and fops have satirized him for attempting 
to make them wise. Tliis is a ^^ grievous of. 
fence,''^ and one that can never be forgiven, 
while envy has so much sway among men. 

If any one denies the Doctor taste and sci- 
ience, let him go and view his cabinet of curi- 
osities, and see the order and beauty of his 
arrangement. Every thing in its place, from 
the hutterjiy and humming-bird, caught on the sum- 



DR. MITCHELL. 211 

mer Jiower, to the tooth of the mastodon, the 
horns of the elk, and the brick, coming all the 
way from Babylon, to the meteoric stone coming 
from God-knows-where, and then ask him if 
there is not taste, science, skill, patience, and 
much that should make a great philosopher in 
Dr. Mitchell's cabinet. ' 



I.ETTE21 XIX. 



Boston, , 1830. 

Deak Sie, 

I AM now in Boston, the metropolis of 
New-England. It answers my expectations, in 
most respects, and in many instances, far ex- 
ceeds them. The city has improved since I 
visited it in former years. The buildings are 
of a convenient kind, and many of them elegant. 
No seventy thousand people on the globe are 
better lodged, or from what I see of the market, 
and public and private tables, better fed. The 
people are mostly of one descent from the first 
settlers of the country, and have about them all 
the marks of their ancestors ; nor are these 
characteristics of this people confined to this 
city, every part of the commonwealth have 
the same. The city of Boston abounds in 
public schools of the first order. The poor 
share with the rich the blessings of education. 
The city boasts of ample public libraries ; and 
private ones are more numerous, and better 
chosen than can be found in any other city in 
this country ; and perhaps I might venture to 



BOSTON. 213 

say in any other in the world. The police is 
excellent. The streets are clean, and all things 
show a well regulated community. The affairs 
of state are managed by a numerous assembly 
of representatives who are, generally speaking, 
highly intelligent men ; if in the multitude of 
cGunseUoj's there is safety, this state cannot suf- 
fer, or be in danger. 

The College Halls, v^ithin three miles of the 
city are ancient and noble edifices. This uni- 
versity dates its origin nearly as far back as the 
foundation of the city. The men as you walk 
the streets have tbat* solemn determined look, 
which their fathers had when they came out ia 
open warfare with the mother country, and un- 
questionably are as brave as they were, with 
much more intelliojence. On the Exchange are 
to be found the old fashioned, honest merchant, 
•with the bustling, modern, brokering speculator. 
The courts of justice, have the respect and con- 
fidence of the people ; and when it is said, '' the 
Supreme Court have so decided,''^ all conflicting 
opinions cease, and the rule laid down by them 
becomes absolute. They venerate the laws 
and arefready to protect the court on any occa- 
sion. The high places of the judgment seats, 
and even those of minor power, have on gene- 
.al been well filled, fcfu public opinion would 
not tolerate any but good talents and of unques- 
tionable probity on the bench for any length of 
19* 



214 BOSTON. 

time. The volumes containing the reported de- 
cisions of their Supreme Court, have been 
thought w^ell of in England, and 1 have heard 
arguments from lawyers in this city that would 
do honour to the fierce Brougham or to the 
straight forward Scarlet. 

Every profession has its learned men in this 
place, and many of them of true merit in socie- 
ty. Although this state first began the revolu- 
etioj^ary war, they have but little rebellious mat- 
ter'^-bout them. They are all as quiet as any 
community I ever saw, under their own govern- 
ment. Three years before the contest for in- 
dependence closed, the people had made them- 
selves a constitution, and form of government ; 
which was in most of its features a model for 
many other states' constitutions. John Han- 
cock, the first signer of the declaration of inde- 
pendence, was their first governor. He was a 
man who filled a great sphere in society, and has 
left an imperishable name for his country's his- 
tory. He was in the chair of the commonwealth, 
except one year, from 1780 until his death in 
1792. The learned, philophical Bowdoin filled 
the chair of the commonwealth, that year. It 
was this year that this state had to crush an in- 
surrection that threatened to subvert the gov- 
ernment. Samuel Adams, who was a patriot, 
and should have been called the Tnjlexihle, was 
his successor. A good and a great man succeed- 



BOSTON. 215 

ed him, Increase Sumner, who was as just as he 
was amiable. Caleb Strong was chosen after 
him. He came from the interior of the state, 
a wise, shrewd, cations man, who was a fair 
representative of the first settlers of the country, 
who were, as zvise as serpents, and as harmless as 
doves. He was sudceeded in 1807 by James 
Sullivan, a bold, energetic chief magistrate; who 
was strongly opposed, at his coming in, by a 
powerful party, but died in less than two yr-^rfj 
having gained by his upright, and indepe-.jent 
administration the confidence of most of his con- 
stituents. In 1809 Christopher Gore, a well 
bred politician, a scholar and a gentleman, was 
his successor. In 1810 Elbridge Gerry, who 
had been an efficient member of the state legis- 
lature in 1775, and a member of the continen- 
tal congress afterwards, and had been conspicu- 
ous in both bodies, was the successful candidate. 
He administered the affairs of the commonwealth 
for two years, and Strong came again into pov/- 
er, and held the chair during the war. The 
gallant General John Brooks was his successor. 
His popularity, as a revolutionary officer was 
paramount to all political, or party feelings, and of 
course he was the governor of the people. To 
him succeeded Doctor Eustis, a man who had 
served in a medical capacity for several years in 
the revolutionary war, had been a member of Con- 
gress from Massachusetts, and afterwards Secre- 



216 BOSTON. 

tary of War in the general government. The 
whole of this group were great men ; they had 
enemies as well as friends ; but all had done the 
country some service, and each had high claims 
for the office, and they were men of whom their 
opponents were proud. Some of them, it is 
true, came into power in the spasms of party ; 
but the Commonwealth had not descended, as 
many others had, to take up men of sixth rate 
minds, or come so low as to fill the chair of 
state with the spawn of political apathy. Mas- 
sachusetts then considered her governors as 
holding only the second office in the country ; 
and after having filled this, they would not ac- 
cept of any other. Changes come over every 
people. Sometimes they oppose those they are 
proud of; at other times, support those they are 
ashamed of. The Athenians were an enlio-ht-- 
ened people, but as volatile as inteUigent. At 
one time they ostracised those of political in- 
tegrity, and prostituted their honours by lifting 
into high places those loose, spongy, declaiming 
demagogues, of whose want of political virtue 
every one was aware, even in the midst of his 
infatuation. These things will happen. A 
sleeping lion v*^ill suffer a slimy lizard to crawl 
over his nose, or hang on the majesty of his 
mane. 

The soil of Massachusetts is a hard one, and 
will not allow any idleness in the cultivation of 



BOSTON. 217 

it. Industry has made it productive and valua- 
ble. The intelligence of the people has turned 
every rood of land to advantage, and if it does not 
support its man, it supports precisely that for 
which it was made. Massachusetts is a land of 
hills, and of many streams of water ; nature 
pointed out the place for a manufacturing coun- 
try ; and notwithstanding the disasters which 
have befallen this interest, throughout New- 
England, it will still be a manufacturing coun- 
try, and equal to the wants of the market. 

This people are struggling to keep the fore- 
most rank in the literature of the country, and 
are establishing town and county Lyceums for 
the diffusion of knowledge. These are most 
admirable institutions ; for they offer the ambi- 
tious not only an opportunity to acquire know- 
ledge, but also to display it. The antiquities of 
the country are sought for, and the time is near 
at hand when a correct history of it will be 
written by some of their enterprising literary 
people. 

For the happiness of the whole there was too 
great an inequality of property ; but this evil 
will not last long : in fact the overgrown for- 
tunes have found an agrarian law in overdoing 
the manufacturing business. This business will 
fall into other hands ; the second, third, and 
minor classes of wealthy men, have taken the 
place of the primary classes, and all will go on 



218 BOSTOiN. 

harmoniously, and strictly, if not so lucratively 
as formerly. 

The whole of New-England abounds in a 
wholesome population, full of industry and intel- 
ligence. She has also some, yea, many great 
men. She, with other parts of the country, has 
committed mistakes in her policy, but she has 
a defence for most, or all of them. The East, 
North, and South, had many things to learn, 
and not a small part of them was a better ac- 
quaintance with each other. New-England has 
produced a large number of patrons of learning, 
and they still abound here. Names might be 
mentioned that would answer to be placed alono- 
side of the great friends of learning in every 
age ; but as her own historians have, or should 
long since have given their deeds to the reader, 
I shall close by saying that I have packed up a 
box of books relating to their history, manners, 
habits, and schools, their possessions, their 
hopes, their every thing, and shall leave you to 
read for yourself. 



ZiXSTTSH XX. 



Boston, ', 1830, 

Dear Sir, 

When I was here some years since, I 
by accident, in a mail coach, become acquaint- 
ed with a singular man of the profession of the 
law. He was witty, 'projligate ; not " thin, hni fat, 
jolly, and infinitely amusing. On my return, I 
inquired for him, alas ! he was not here, but al- 
though I knew it was not reputable to be seen 
with him, yet I felt it as a disappointment to find 
that he had gone the way of all the earth. Ex- 
pressing my wish to know something of his his- 
tory, a friend put a manuscript in my hand from 
which with his consent I have extracted the fol- 
lowing account ; if it is as interesting to you as 
he was to me, I shall be paid for transcribing it. 
The Maxim " De mortuis nil nisi bonum," 
*' say nothing of the dead hut what is good, has 
wisely been changed to " De mortuis nil nisi 
verum." But even the truth should not be told 
at all times, if it casts a shadow over the grave ; 
for the dead cannot defend themselves. It is 
far better that the pall of oblivion should be 



220 BARTLET. 

thrown over the errors of sinful man, than 
that they should be exposed, unless their expo- 
sition may servo as a beacon and a warning to 
those who may come after us. To drag into 
public, what was done in private, is wrong ; but 
those who filled every act of the drama of life 
as public men, who enacted every thing for. no- 
toriety and effect, and whose deeds had an in- 
fluence on society, are fair subjects of examina- 
tion, and animadversion. They must have ex- 
pected this when living, and their friends cannot 
complain of it when they are gone. There are 
those who must be held out for us to shun, as 
well as those exhibited for us to imitate ; detest- 
ation for vice is nearly allied to a love of virtue. 
As much may be learned from the reckless pro- 
fligacy of Anthony, as from the severe virtues of 
Cato ; and from the life of Csesar Borgia, as 
from that of Pius VII. In our young communi- 
ty, we have, in general, buried every thing in 
the grave ; and tread lightly over the ashes of the 
dead, hardly daring to repeat the maxim, " No 
good man weeps when gifted villains die :" But 
the welfare of society demands that this injudi- 
cious modesty be overruled ; and truth, bold, 
distinct, and naked, when it can do good, should, 
unhesitatingly, be brought forth. It is abso- 
lutely idle, and in fact, next to ridiculous, to 
show a shrinking delicacy about one who never 
had exhibited any regard for himself or for 



BARTLET. 221 

Others. It may be said that the living should 
be regarded, if the dead are not. This is right, 
to a certain extent ; but not to a very great one. 
The innocent child should not be distressed by 
premature remarks upon his parents, nor the 
aged parent agonized by a display of the vices of 
the child. There should be discretion in all 
things; but the subject of this sketch died child- 
less, and his parents are no more, and probably 
there is not one living to whom a full develop, 
ment of his character would give a pang ; for if 
his profuseness made, for a while, any impres- 
sions upon the minds of the grateful, his dupli- 
city and deceptions wiped them all away ; and 
they can hear of him as of men for whom they 
had no regard, or never knew. 

Joseph Bartlet was born at Plymouth, the 
landing place of the Pilgrims, about 1763. His 
parents were highly respectable, among the 
moral and intelligent of that exemplary people. 
He was sent to Harvard College, and graduated 
in 1783. He had a highly respectable standing 
as a scholar in his class, as is, in some measure, 
proved by his being one of the three to whom 
the charter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society was 
sent by the Alpha, then existing at William and 
Mary College, Virginia, for the University at 
Cambridge. He early attained that wretched 
notoriety which has injured so many young men 
in college — the reputation for wit and excentri- 
20 



222 BARTLET. 

city. The gay gather round such a man, to join 
in the amusement, and the grave and sober now 
and then relish a good thing from him ; and it 
must be remembered, that the age in which he 
came forward, was not remarkable for its sobrie- 
ty, or reverence for holy things. The country 
was indeed engaged, at that time, in a great 
struggle,- — one on which hung the destinies of 
the nation ; but any man acquainted with human 
nature, knows that great exertions of this kind 
produce every evil fruit in morals and manners. 
The elements of society were in a measure 
a^float, during the revolutionary war, and parti- 
culiarly at its close. 

, Bartlet left his Alma Mater the year of the 
peace, 1783 ; and every thing was in doubt and 
confusion. ^The brave were resting from their 
toils, tjiinking they had done their share of 
the great work; and were willing that others 
should commence their labours. At such a fa- 
vourable moment for confusion, the demagoirues 
who had been silent, when there was any danger, 
now raised their voices at every corner, and in 
every high place, to excite the turbulent against 
order and mod-eration. Bartlet issued from the 
halls of feis college to join in the full cry of 
liberty and equality, with those who intended to 
profit byuproir tmd confusion. .He was well cal- 
culated to assist in raising the whirlwind ; but had 
no talents or disposition to aid in directing the 



BARTLET. 223 

Storm. Bartlet was soon conspicuous among 
the vulgar and the riotous; for he had a ready- 
elocution that caught the shallow, who wei^ 
contented with any specious arguments, when it 
was in consent with their wishes. He was at 
such times more than a match for men more 
powerful in argument than himself, for his ready 
wit never fliiled him, when he found it in vain 
to reason.; -and in any contest he seldom failed 
to get the laugh on his side ; and this is much 
in a dispute now, and was more then. At this pe- 
riod of life he was an open infidel, aad this was 
thought by some as bemg a mark of a great 
mind. The loose in principle wanted a witty 
leader, one who had the capacity of using pro- 
fligate satire and indecent ribaldry in their cause, 
against the decent and pious. They had a man 
in Bartlet on whom they could rely. The reli- 
gious had long been unaccustomed to be dis- 
turbed in their opinions : they had, it is true, 
quarrelled a little about points ; but had seldom 
been assailed at all points ; and they hardly 
knew what to make of it, when they were bold- 
ly attacked in their very citadel. The pious 
were alarmed at this course, and shuddered at 
his attempts to make shipwreck of their faith ; 
while the tree thinker enjoyed if, and made him 
a much greater man in point of intellect than he 
really was. 

Soon after leaving college, he went to Sa- 



224 BARTLET. 

lem, to study law ; and in the mean time to 
teach a school. He could not have spent much 
time in this place, for he was not at all suited 
for that latitude. They are a quiet, thinking 
people in Salem, and were not prepared for such 
opinions. At this time, many of our young men 
were taking a voyage to England, and Bartlet 
thought he would go likewise ; and without much 
preparation he set sail. This was, indeed, an 
adventure. He had no object in view, except 
to see if he could brin^ his wit and convivial 
talents to a market. In this he in a degree suc- 
ceeded. 

From the opulent Americans around him he 
obtained supplies for the present, and trusted to 
chance for the future. 

One night when Bartlet was in the Theatre 
in London, a play was going on, in which his 
countrymen were ridiculed, I believe it is one 
of General Burgoyne's plays ; a number of re- 
bels had been taken, and brought into the Brit- 
ish camp ; on the inquiry being made about 
their occupations, I believe the play says 'pro- 
fessions,^ before they became soldiers, the an- 
swer was, although many of them were officers, 
that they were of different callings ; some were 
barbers, some tailors, some tinkers, &c. at this 
moment Bartlet rose from his seat in the pit, 
and cried, " hurra ! Great Britain beaten by 
barbers, taylors and tinkers!" The effect was 



BARTLET. 125 

wonderful. John Bull took it all iti good part ; 
and many of the Bloods of the daij introduced 
themselves to him : and he made the hest of the 
occasion. Those who were pleased with his 
boldness, soon became enamoured with his wit. 
He had no restraint upon moral, political or re- 
ligious grounds in saying any thing, and his 
manners were, when he chose, gentleman, 
ly, and very fascinating ; and he for awhile 
was quite a lion in a certain circle ; he was as- 
suredly distinguished wherever he v.'ent. The 
Bucks of London at that time supposed that 
Americans were savages, and were surprised to 
find one who had been caught, tamed, and in their 
view, somewhat polished. Hevvas sought after 
and petted, and in good faith they found that he 
had seen, before they saw him — a hand of cards. 
He often boasted, that this time he had frequent 
meetings with Fox, and sRridan, and is this 
unlikely ? But Bartlet's maxim of " carpe di- 
em," would not suffer him long to be even a 
fortunate gambler ; he was too sensual, and 
luxurious for that ; soon as his purse was full, 
the society of the table, took precedence of all 
others. He had no legitimate hold on society, 
but like the moss on the rock clung to it by sic- 
city or saturation, until blown off, and there- 
fore it is not v/onderful that he should have 
found hi mself in prison after a season of drought 
and showers. Here he groaned and cursed 
20* 



226 BARTLET. 

awhile ; but found that such a course did not 
do any good, and he set his wits to work to get 
out of confinement. For this purpose he wrote 
a play, which has since perished with ten thou- 
sand others, but this was a novelty ; a play 
from an American ! This provided him a sum 
sufficient for his release. His former friends, 
he has often said, gave it a character it did not 
merit. 

The particulars of this event he would never 
precisely acknowledge ; but met every inquiry 
with his usual escape, — some facetious remark. 

From London he set his face towards Edin- 
burgh, and there under an assumed name went 
on the stage, and as Mr. Maitland, enacted sev- 
eral parts in genteel comedy ; and if his own 
account of himself may be taken, was quite suc- 
cessful. He prided himself in being at home 
in Belcour in the^Ml^st Indian, and in all prob- 
ability, at that tittic, he had some qualifications 
for the part. His histrionic career was not 
long ; he was too fond of society to study enough 
to make an actor, if nature had fitted him 
through industry, to have become one. He 
soon grew tired with this way of life, and has- 
tened back to London, after one season, and 
made an acquaintance with the mercantile clas- 
ses, who were then in a rage to fill the United 
States with goods ; and strange as it may seena 
by his specious representations, and their anx- 



BARTLET. 227 

iety to sell, he procured a large credit. These 
were probably insured in London, and perhaps, 
the creditors did not suffer much, for the vessel 
in which Bartlet was returning with his goods, 
was cast away on cape Cod, and was lost, with 
the bulk of her cargo. 

There is an anecdote connected with this 
shipwreck quite characteristic of Bartlet. On 
the voyage he had been constantly descanting 
on his favourite topic, the theme of the French 
philosophers, " ilie eternal sleep of the grave, 
and the recuperative force of matter^'' and 
that he was ready to take up his march at a 
moments warning ; but when the vessel struck 
the shore, he discovered the most cowardly anx- 
iety for his safety, and when asked what had 
become of his philosophy, and contempt of 
death ? like Falstaff, he evaded the subject by 
saying " that it is not that I fear to die ; but I 
should dislike to be found dead in such a dreary 
place, as the back of cape Cod." There is noth- 
ing more amusing than to trace the selfishness 
of those of his school who preach disinterested 
benevolence. This patriot and champion for 
the new philosophy, took care to get to the shore 
as soon as possible, leaving the gentlemen of 
old fashioned principles to assist the female pas- 
sengers in making their escape. 

On his arrival at Boston he formed a copart- 
nership in business as a merchant, and again left 



228 BARTLET. 

his country for England. He ^again obtained a 
very considerable credit for his firm, which soon 
failed ; but how much he was to blame in this 
I never could discover. 

Tired with trade, he returned to his first in- 
tention of studying the law. While engaged in 
reading his profession, the insurrection of Dan- 
iel Shays, and his party took place, and the 
troops of the lower counties in Massachusetts, 
were ordered to march to suppress it. Rein- 
forcements were soon wanting, and volunteer 
companies were raised in Boston and the vicin- 
ity, and Bartlett was chosen to command one of 
them. He told them so much of his prowess, 
that they thought him a great military cheiftain. 
Captain Bobadil could not have said more of 
himself. He took up his line of march from 
Boston to Springfield ; but two hours after he had 
left the town of Boston, he was ordered to re- 
turn, for the insurrection was quelled and tran- 
quillity established. On this news the captain 
of the train-band made a speech, regreting that 
he and his brave followers, had not had an op- 
portunity of showing their courage ; and closed 
his harangue by saying, that he had not the 
slightest doubt, that Shays had retreated on 
hearing that he was coming with his brave com- 
pany. 

On his admission to the bar he opened his of- 
fice at a town called Woburn, within a dozen 



4 

BARTLET. 229 

miles of Boston, and here began his career as a 
wit, a lawyer, and a politician. Never was there 
a better demagogue. He harangued in the grog 
shops, and at the town meetings ; and at all times 
had the power of setting the mob in a roar ; and 
sober men too, if within hearing, found him irre- 
sistible. His aim was first to attract attention 
and then to assad his audience through the me- 
dium of their vanity, and then to direct them 
when they were excited, to a spirit of faction 
and misrule. As odd as Jo Bartlet, was soon a 
by word. He had painted his house black, and 
caled it " the coffin," and the passers-by stared, 
inquired, and wondered what sort of a man this 
Jo Bartlet could be. In a few years he moved 
to Cambridge, the half- shire of the county of 
Middlesex. 

Here was a wider field for the display of his 
talents, than he had found in a small town ; not 
that he expected or wished to associate with the 
literati at Harvard university. The faculty had 
no love for such a man ; his politics, his religion, 
or rather his want of any religion ; and all his 
opinions, and habits were not to their taste ; but 
he knew that he should gain popularity by an- 
noying them, that is the only popularity with the 
only class of people he ever expected to secure, 
the profligate and lawless. By some manage- 
ment he got himself selected as poet for the an- 
niversary celebration of the Phi Belta Kappa. In 



230 BARTLET. 

this production he indulged his spleen against 
some of the professors of that institution. This 
was, however severe, the best production of ills 
pen that is extant. There is poetry, taste and 
no little splendour in this work, however un- 
just or sarcastic it may be. 

In all the domestic concerns of the college, he 
strove to have a part. At every quarter-day he 
watched the poets and the performances of every 
kind, and gave his biassed and partial opinions 
to the world, through the medium of the press. 
This was indeed dreadful ; for these candidates 
for fame imagined their own little world to be 
all the world; but the public newspaper taught 
them otherwise ; and they found the critic was 
afier them, before they had trusted themselves 
to the press. By these attacks on the quarterly 
performances, Bartlet often felt the resentment 
of the scholars, and had but few or none to sup- 
port him ; but he made mischief, and that was 
pleasant to him. 

He invited a few of the scholars to his table, 
and kept a small party in his train, who drank 
his wine, and who were sure, while in his favour, 
that he would violate every thing like justice, to 
make them conspicuous. He joined in every 
little college feud, for the love of confusion and 
uproar. The town of Cambridge was agitated 
by party violence, and in the whirlwind he now 
and then was thrown up to public notice, and 



BARTLET. 231 

succeeded, more than once, in obtaining a seat 
in the House of Representatives in the general 
court ; but he had no weight in that body ; the 
materials of that assembly were not much affect- 
ed by liis wit, or in the least guided by his po!i. 
tical opinions ; still he enjoyed it ; for iiis ele- 
ment was a rancorous opposition. At the 
Courts he was not more respected than in the 
Legislature ; for he mixed himself up with his 
clients, who, in general, were harlots, rogues, 
and knaves, of every size and grade. He amu- 
sed those he did not benefit ; and spunged all by 
one piece of management or another ; and this 
class often find means to pay counsel when they 
seem extremely poor. Such a man as Bartlet 
wears badly in any place ; and he found his po- 
pularity, such as it was, declining : with the 
honest he had but little communion, and with 
the bad he v/as out of favour, for they found he 
had no weight with a jury ; and often his repu- 
tation, and his clients' together, ruined a pretty 
fair cause. It was time for him, to use his 
own expression, " to see neio faces.'' From 
Cambridge he removed to Saco, in the province, 
now state of Maine. In this place he began, wiih 
fresh vigour, the same course he had pursued 
at Cambridge, as to politics and lav/. He ob- 
tained credit sufficient to erect a good house, 
and seemed, for a while, flourishing, particular- 
ly in peJitics. He was sent a senator from the 



232 BARTLET. 

county of York, to the Legislature of Massa- 
chusetts. In this body he was courted for his 
own vote, perhaps, but nigver carried a single 
one by his arguments or his eloquence ; but it 
is thought he assailed some propositions with 
success, by the force of his ridicule ; but this 
more often deters the modest from doing good, 
than the bold from doing evil ; but ridicule is no 
test oftruth, atany time. The next year found him 
an unsuccessful candidate for the same office ; 
but this did not discourage him; his patriotism 
burned so conspicuously, that his partizans put 
him in nomination for Congress, and he was so 
active with his pen and tongue in electioneering 
for himself, aided by his followers, that he run 
nearly equal with his opponent, having, at 
the close of the polls, within half a dozen 
votes as many as the successful candidate. 
Some of his political writings of that period 
had some pungency, and no little satire in 
them ; yet they went to decay and oblivion 
with the autumnal leaves of the year ; but 
at that time they were blown about and spread 
abroad, as thickly as the thistle down, over 
the fields and gardens, and gave considera- 
ble alarm to the sound and virtuous politicians of 
the day. The demagogue, a happy circum- 
stance for morals, gives his breath to the winds, 
and its first influence is generally the worst. 
Even the rancorous words of politicians com* 



BARTLET. 233 

mitted to the periodica! press are soon forgotten. 
Junius may be stated a^. .in exception ; but this 
only proves the rule. At this day the opinions 
of that great writer pass for nothing, and his ma- 
lice would be condemned if it had not been em- 
balmed in so felicitous a style ; a style as full of 
genius as beauty. The folds of the serpent are 
preserved to accompany and account for the 
writhings, the agonies and griefs of the Laocoon- 
tes ; but the very reptile which adds to the won- 
derful effect of the group would be turned from 
with instinctive disgust, if it had been chiselled 
out alone, or by an ordinary hand. By his im- 
prudence and waywardness, he was at length 
broken up here, also. His power over the mul- 
titude was every day diminishing, and his chance 
of political advancement nearly gone, when he 
removed to Portsmouth, in New-Hampshire. 
In this place he had some business, and some 
influence for a while, owing to the party spirit 
which then agitated the community ; but the 
sagacious people of that town had formed a 
pretty just estimate of his character, and he 
made no progress in political life, and with 
difficulty found means to support himself as a 
citizen. His clients were of the same grade in 
New-Hampshire as his clients had been in 
other places ; but even this class of clients soon 
discovered that their advocate must have some 
standing in society to do any good in court ; 
21 



234 BARTLET. 

and they turn from such men as Bartlet, afier 
some experience, to find men of influence to as- 
sist them. At this time he had depreciated as 
a man of talents, his stories had been told a 
hundred times, his flashes of wit were less fre- 
quent, and he often attempted to make up in 
scurrility what was wanting in acuteness. From 
day to day he grew more irregular in his habits, 
and more careless in his person, and of course 
he was neglected by many, who once from cour- 
tesy associated with him ; and the good people 
of Portsmouth were heartily tired of him long 
before his departure from the place ; and at 
length hired him to go, by agreeing to take 
a certain number of tickets for some recita- 
tion which he proposed to give. This literary 
exhibition was beneath contempt, but secured 
him a handsome sum of money, for so slight a 
labour. Bartlet lingered in Portsmouth a waile, 
until his money was nearly or quite exhausted, 
and then set out for Boston. Here he opened 
his office ; but very few clients, however, found 
their way to it ; and those few were miserable 
wretches, who came for a writ for an assault and 
battery, or some such grievous matter, and from 
whom he could only squeeze a few dollars. In 
this situation he became a tax to his friends, or 
rather on those who had known him in his e^rly 
days, or had become acquainted with him in the 
various paths he trod in life ; and such was the 



BARTLET. 235 

liberality of the community in which he lived, 
that the amount received by him, if it had been 
prudently expended, would have supported him 
in all the necessaries of life ; but who ever 
knew such a man v.'ith a particle of even fore- 
thought ? His principal reliance was on the 
members of the Suffolk bar, but others assisted 
freely, and particularly the benevolent Mrs. 
F****, whose husband kept a public house in the 
city. She was the most judicious of all those 
who gave him succour ; and to her he was al- 
ways obedient and respectful ; and his regard 
for her judgment was the only proof, for a long 
while before he died, that he was not lost to eve- 
ry correct principle of conduct. Bartlet's case 
is not the only instance of her good sense and 
liberality to the unfortunate. Never was a more 
judicious philanthropist than this good woman, 
nor one that did so much with the same means ; 
for she is as discriminating and prudent as she 
is charitable. For six or seven years Bartlet 
went on in this way, until he died in 1827 ; and 
his exit was a relief to all around him. The 
death of such a man gives no one the heart- 
ache, or causes a tear to be shed. 

When we sum up the whole matter of the lite 
of such a man, we find it amounts to little ; no 
one has been made wiser, or happier by him 5 
"and his whole existence, with all its evils, does 
not furnish sufficient of incident or variety, to 



236 BART LET. 

point a moral or adorn a tale. A wit is indeed 
" a feather ;" and the smart things said any 
where, are echoed but once or twice, and then 
given to the winds. The wit of Bartlet was in 
general neat and tasteful ; and if it had not been 
allied, like Voltaire's, to infidelity, it would have 
gained him more fame than it did. Some of his 
flashes of witty resentment showed so much of 
heartlessness, that the listener shuddered at the 
blasphemy, while he could not refrain from 
laughing, at the moment, at the singularity of it. 
What can there be so evanescent as wit ? for 
althouorh the writer of this brief sketch has 
heard many of his witticisms from Bartlet him- 
self, and others, yet he has suffered them 
to pass from his memory, as the recollection 
of them would be productive of no good ; but 
in justice it should be said, that Bartlet has 
never published any thing, with his name, that 
has an immoral tendency. His poem on phy- 
sio^nomv delivered before the Phi Betta Kap- 
pa, at Harvard university, was evidently intend, 
ed as a satire on particular individuals, and like 
most satires contains many exaggerations ; yet 
there is nothing in it offensive to morals, or 
manners, and considering the state of poetry at 
the time in which it was written, is a very fair 
poem in regard to the talents it discovers. It 
had something of his spiteful disposition in it, 
but none of that outrageous slander that he was 



BARTLET. 237 

every day breathing out in his intercourse with 
society. At a later period he wrote a book of 
aphorisms that are well enough, but the produc- 
lion cannot be said to have any great share of 
originality in it. After the proverbs of Solomon ; 
Rochefaucalt, and those of the Spanish writers 
down to Sancho Pan^a, there seems but little to 
glean in aphoristic literature. 

In the writings attributed to him which ap- 
peared from time to time, twenty or thirty 
3^ears, ago there was much of vituperation and 
false reasoning ; but it is very seldom that truth 
is found in party accusation or defence, and he 
never had even a sense of decency to restrain 
him, to say nothing of principle. In his wri- 
tmcrs as well as in his conversation a most ma- 
licious spirit was evident when he was in the 
least offended. He raved at the rich because 
he felt his own poverty, he sneared at the pru- 
dent because he knew that he was destitute of 
all economy; he ridiculed the learned, for he 
was too indolent to store his mind with useful 
knowledge ; and, like many, he affected to de- 
, spise what he had not industry to obtain. He re- 
lied in middle life, and in old age on the acquire- 
ments of his youth, which were respectable, but 
the starved mind soon discovers its deficiencies 
and weakness. He that does not sow and reap, 
in seed time and harvest, and that on every sea- 
son, will soon deal out straw and chaff for 
21* 



238 BARTLET. 

sheaves, and provender. As his head grew 
more empty his heart grew more rotten, for the 
time must be filled up with something ; and when 
emulation ceases envy must come to fill every 
void of the heart. All the good kind men did 
him produced only a momentary impression, and 
his gratitude was a mere transient matter of 
sunshine, while his resentments were rancour- 
ous and lasting. The heart and the head fre- 
quently become diseased together. In his times 
of distress he attempted to poise himself on his 
philosophy ; but it was a shallow, cold, heartless, 
infidel philosophy, destitute of hope or enthusi- 
asm, and which could only be supported by hu- 
man pride. It was that bravery whose parent 
is cowardice, and which prefers the impulses of 
desperation to the dictates of a deliberate judg- 
ment, that gave the semblance of energy to 
any part of his conduct. The empire either of 
wit, or of any other power, mental, political, or 
adventitious soon passes away, unless the most 
strenuous exertions are made to maintain and 
extend it. The wit which once "set the table in 
a roar," loses its point by repetition, and the 
laugh, once so contagious that the gravest could 
not resist it, after a while becomes " stale, flat^ 
and unprofitable,''^ Fashion is every thirig, but 
fashion soon passes away, or rather changes 
her form, for she is truly eternal in spirit, and 
power ; and the joke that was once racy and 



BARTLET. 239 

piquant, after awhile, becomes dull and ceases 
to attract attention, and the sentimental or na- 
tional song, takes its place. Foot was some- 
times tedious, and Sheridan maudlin, prosaic and 
intolerable ; and they tired their companions 
even when their talents were brought to a bet- 
ter market than Bartlet could find in this coun- 
try for his. 

An imprudent man frequently under the ap- 
pearance of carelessness and great liberality, 
is selfish and exclusive, and often attempts to 
put down the claims of justice by an assumption 
of generosity ; and the complaints of a large 
creditor, for his total loss, are drowned in the 
abundant thanks, and noisy gratitude of some 
recipient of a slight benefaction. There is no 
particle of resentment or malice in the remarks 
I have made on the subject of this memoir, nor 
any wish to keep his failings alive. The sketch 
v/as made to show the young the vanity of a 
reputation for wit, and the folly of struggling to 
be thought a genius, unless industry, and ex- 
panded feeling are allied to distinguished powers 
and happy gifts. Of Bartlet the world may 
speak freely, for his father has long since gone 
down with sorrow to the grave, and the wife of 
his youth was obliged to desert him when ten. 
derness and affection had become strangers to 
his bosom ; and he left no child to blush at his 
father's failings. If the dead, not claimed by re- 



240 BARTLET. 

lations or friends, may be taken by common con- 
sent to the theatre of the anatomist for the pub- 
lie good, surely the character of one whose life 
may serve to warn us of the dangers incident 
to our journey from youth to the grave, or teach 
us to shun the vices of society as we pass on, is 
common property for the moralist or sermoni- 
zer. If there was any thing in such a life to 
attract attention, there was nothing to secure 
respect. No mourner followed his hearse, no 
poet sung his dirge, and where rest his ashes 
no one will inquire. So pass away the profli- 
gate and the unprincipled. 



ImHTTHB. KXl. 



Boston f , 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

I HAVE not had sufficient leisure to exe- 
cute that part of your commission which relates 
to those (Jistinsuished men of ihe United States 
who have just gone off the stage. They are not 
numerous, as the old revolutionists are falling like 
autumnal leaves, and those of the next genera- 
tion hegin rapidly to follow ; of the first class 
much has been said, of the second but little, for 
there has not been much time to think of their 
merits. And perhaps it is not best to say much 
about them now, as there is a revolution taking 
place in the public mind, and it may be well to 
wait until this has become settled. Men were 
estimated according to their offices, the people 
are becoming wise, and they will be estimated 
according to their merits. I have sketched one 
you inquired after, general Brown, and the oth- 
ers I send you, are well known to me. 

The physical force of the army of the United 
States is nothing. A few thousand troops are 
to be found at the different forts and canton- 



242 GEN. BROWN. 

ments along the seaboard and frontiers ; the plan 
pursued 1 think is admirable. They support of- 
ficers and not soldiers. These officers are men 
of intellect and good morals and instead of gov- 
erning men, which would afford tiiem no oppor- 
tunity of improving their minds, they are enga- 
ged in scientific pursuits and are serviceable to 
the country by making its topography known to 
all sorts of people. In case of war men can be 
raised and diciplined in a short time under skil- 
ful officers. The last war gave sufficient evi- 
dence of American bravery, but there was a 
lack of well informed officers. There were men 
among them of great talents, and who managed 
well, but even these would acknowledge that 
there were but few scientific officers at the com- 
mencement of the war, and that the army suf- 
fered much, for the want of them. Although it 
sometimes happens that circumstances create the 
necessary talents for the occasion, yet it is much 
better to have men acquainted with all that has 
been done in war or peace ready for service. 
Among those men who have started up at the 
moment they are wanted, and act their part 
with honour, was the late major general Brown. 
He began life with the peaceful tenets of a qua- 
ker, and pursued the unobtrusive employment of 
a teacher of youth. For some time he was not 
aware of the spirit that was within him, but at 
length he saw the sun rise and set, while he was 



GEN. BROWN. 243 

in the same dull rouad of humble duty, and the 
thought came over him that he was destined for 
something of a more active nature. In 1799 
he went on to the frontiers and purchased a lot 
of land, took his axe, and began to fell the for- 
rest with his own hand, in order to commence a 
settlement. This was soon done ; he purchased 
more land ; and was made Agent for M. Le Roy 
de Chaumont, a distinguished Frenchman who 
owned a large tract of that country, and was in- 
dustrious in obtaining settlers, and when he had 
enough for a company of militia they were form- 
ed, and he so far shook off the quaker as to take 
the command of them, at their urgent request. 
From the command of a company he soon found 
himself at the head of a regiment and from that 
office, at the commencement of the war of 1812, 
he v/as raised to a major general, and when 
the militia were first called upon to assist the 
regular troops on the frontiers, his name had 
hardly reached head quarters at Washington ; 
but such was his promptness, efficiency and 
success, that the general government, not a little 
embarrassed at the previous disasters in that 
quarter, proffered him a high command in the ar. 
my of the United Slates. It was accepted and 
he moved on from one degree of fame to anoth- 
er in this short war, until he found himself at 
the head of the army, and at the return of peace 
he made his head quarters at Washington, and 



244 ^EN. BROWN. 

remained there until his death in 1828. Ge- 
neral Brown was considerably above the com- 
mon height, over six feet. His countenance 
was a fine assemblage of regular, good sized 
features, which most admirably expressed his 
striking characterisiics, mildness and determina- 
tion. He had nothing in his manners of that 
importance and vanity which often accompanies 
a self-made man ; on the contrary, he was for 
ever on the watch to gain something new. He 
was well aware of his early deficiencies as a 
military man, as any one would be ; and he took 
the advice of those in whom he had confidence, 
and weighed it in a sound balance ; and of course 
was seldom wrong. If he was not the master 
spirit of the army, he was well calculated to be 
at its head, he managed all so gently, and im- 
partially. He was as much esteemed in pri- 
vate as in public life. In the social circles at 
Washington, he thought nothing of that pride of 
ofiice so common with little men ; but was affa- 
ble to all. The public deeds of such men will 
find historians enough in every future age ; but 
we should see on the records of the present 
hour, something said of their private virtues. 
These gems of life, though lasting as eternity, 
are often buried in the dust at the base of the 
pyramid of a great man's fame. Brown was a 
general of a primitive cast ; he emulated anti 
quity ;— 



WILLIAM TUDOR. 245 

" Have you not heard of LacedoBmon's fame ? 
Of Attic chiefs in Freedom's war divine? 
Of Rome's dread generals ? the Valerian name ? 
The Fabian sons? The Scipio's matchless line? 
Your lot was theirs. The farmer and the swain 
Met his loved patron's summons from the plain ; 
The Legions gathered ; the bright eagles flew ; 
Barbarian monarchs in the triumph mourned, 
The conquerors to their household gods returned, 
And fed Calabrian flocks, and steered the Sabine 
plough." 

The United States has recently met with a 
loss in the death of the Hon. William Tudor, 
late charge d' affaires to the Emperor of Brazil, 
from this country. Mr. Tudor was born in Bos- 
ton, in 1777. He graduated from Harvard 
College 1796 ; and although very young, was 
among the first scholars of his class. Soon af- 
ter leaving college, he travelled in Europe, and 
acquired a great fund of useful knowledge, with- 
out contracting the slightest touch of that man- 
ner which so often marks the travelled youth on 
his return to his native country. " Sirs, I have 
seen, and sure I ought to know,^^ was no part of 
his manners. It must be confessed, that he re. 
turned to his native city, warm and bright from 
all the lovely retreats of learning, and enlight- 
ened from the halls of science, and brought with 
him the noble ambition of attempting to make 
his countrymen turn their attention to literature 
and science, and to cultivate a taste for the arts. 
22 



246 WILLIAM TUDOR. 

For this he changed the Anthology into a quar- 
terly review, which was called the North Ame- 
rican Review, and at once established a proud, 
and I trust, a permanent literary work for his 
country. It was, indeed, a^reat undertaking. 
The taste of the writers of this country had not 
been, at that time, well developed. There were 
two schools, or rather two styles then in vogue. 
The quaintness of a former age had, from some 
few incipient principles of taste, become un- 
fashionable, and the bold, extravagant, tasteless 
manner of writing had followed it, except by a 
few who were disgusted with this style of wri- 
ting, and these took a different course, and wrote 
with affected simplicity. They were boih bad 
enough ; one bloated, flushed, and dropsical, 
and the other lean, emaciated, and bloodless. 
Tudor was well prepared by precept and exam- 
ple, to correct these evils of literature ; for he 
was not only learned, but mild, modest, and 
persevering. He offended none by dictatorial 
air, or pedantic assumption. He was not timid, 
however, in his course ; nor did he, like most 
critics, discover an unwillingness to write any 
thing but reviews, for fear of finding critics in 
his turn, but was ready to be subject to his own 
rules. He wrote two or more works : two, cer- 
tainly ; for his own name is affixed to one, and 
the other was avowed by him. , These works 
show no small share of thought, but are more 



WILLIAM TUDOR. 247 

remarkable for a pure and gentlemanly style 
than for any extraordinary efibrts of genius. 

Mr. Tudor was for several years a member of 
the legislature of the state of Massachusetts, and 
though not remarkably popular with the country 
members, yet he was respected by all of them. 
In his travels he had so disciplined his mind, 
that he seemed too mild for party times ; and 
thev put down for tameness and indifference, 
that which was the result of gentlemanly feel- 
ings and polished manners. It can be said of 
Mr. Tudor, that he spoke merely on those subjects 
in which he was most particularly interested for 
the commonwealth, and never uttered a word for 
popularity or fame. Never was there a man of 
more singleness of heart, or purity of motives. 
Some of the wise members of the legislature 
thought him a little romantic ; but while they 
voted against his plans, were fully convinced 
that he was an honest man. Most of the mat- 
ters he prepared, when in that body, have since 
been acted upon ; and in many instances, ac- 
cording: to his wishes at that time. There was 
no avarice, no corroding ambition in his soul. 
He was a bachelor, and only Wiinted an elegant 
competency; he asked no more; and had he 
possessed more, it would have been devoted to 
the advancement of letters and the sciences. 
He had been much abroad, but never lost sight 
his own country ; and in fact it is to be be- 



248 WILLIAM TUDOR. 

lieved, that he loved it the more from residing 
in other countries. 

This is the effect of travel upon a well regula- 
ted mind. He vv^as a patron and friend to the 
Boston Athenaeum, and considered Harvard Uni- 
versity as an Alma Mater indeed. It has been 
said that he first suggested the erection of a 
monument on Bunker Hill. If this is not cor- 
rect, as it cannot be, he was the mover of the 
plan for erecting the very monument which has 
been begun, and is now pretty nearly raised, and 
which will, in good time, be finished. He went 
further than the erection of a simple obelisk, to 
catch the gaze of the passing traveller, and pre- 
pared a temple also ; not only as a repository 
of the archives of the country, but of the relics 
of the antiquities of it also. This was a noble 
plan, and will be followed up, most religiously, 
in due time ; but the people here are in the habit 
of requiring the accomplishment of such great 
matters in too short a time. 

Mr. Tudor moved in the most intellectual cir- 
cles in his native city, and was distinguished 
for elevation, refinement and accomplishments 
among its members. Such was his serenity of 
temper that even that most irritating of all dis- 
eases, the gout, which with him was hereditary, 
and severe, never disturbed his temper. He 
pursued his labours when the fit was upon him 
and wrote with composure when his pain was 



WILLIAM TUDOR. 249 

almost insupportable. In 1822 Mr. Tudor was 
appointed consul to Lima. He was anxious for 
this office, not for its emoluments, for those were 
trifling, but he wished to read the character of 
that portion of the world, for he knew from its 
history that it must have many new features in 
it, and it had just come into the family of nations. 
He was industrious while he was consul, in col- 
lecting materials for some future work. From- 
Lima he w as sent to Brazil as charge d' affaires. 
In this situation he was an honour to this coun- 
try. This people were soon apprised of his 
rank as a literary man, and highly respected 
him as a public functionary. In some most criti- 
cal situations he maintained the dignity of his 
government, and at the same time insinuated 
himself into the affections of the Emperor. The 
foreign ministers were his friends, and admirers, 
for they found him a high minded man, and an 
open, gentle, yet determined politician. Such 
men should be sent abroad, who are the 
pride of the people at home. Mr. Tudor was 
from the cradle to the grave, a gentleman. He 
descended from a family that had been opulent 
for several generations, although by the changes 
of fortune he inherited nothing of consequence. 
His father, Judge Tudor, was one of the most 
accomplished men of his age. He was a law 
student with the late patriot, John Adams, and 
soon after coming to the bar, was appointed 
22* 



250 WILLIAM TUDOR. 

judge advocate general of the army of Washing- 
ton, then at Cambridge. On the close of the 
year 1777, he was called on to conduct the trial 
of col. Henely, arrested on charges preferred 
by General Burguoyne, for oppression, &;c. 
to some of his soldiers. The English general 
was a most accomplished scholar, and made in 
this trial a most eloquent and able argument in 
support of the charges and specifications he had 
brought forward. Tudor has often said that it 
was equal to any speech he ever heard from any 
one ; and Burguoyne said the young American 
judge advocate went through his duties as a gen- 
tleman and a man of learning and good sense. 
Henely was acquitted. 

There has been a meagre report of the trial 
which has come down to the present genera- 
tion, but from which nothing of importance as to 
the particulars can be learned ; but one of the 
court some years since, informed me, as I was 
anxious to learn any thing of General Bur- 
guoyne, that this trial called forth on both sides 
very conspicuous talents. Judge Tudor has been 
dead only about ten years, and is remembered 
in Boston as one of those pleasant and intellec- 
tual men that one meets in genteel society, and 
who are communicative and happy, having a 
large circle of affectionate acquaintance. His 
son WiUiam was the idol of his heart, for in ear- 
ly youth he was of a graver mien than his father^, 



JUDGE WASHINGTON. 251 

who was truly one of the most playful and face- 
tious men that ever gave zest to a dinner, or life 
to an evening party ; he had one of the kindest 
dispositions that ever man possessed, and it 
shed its sweet influences every where, in do- 
mestic and public life. 

The papers have just announced that Bushrod 
Washington, the senior associate judge of the 
supreme court of the United States, died at Phil- 
adelphia, while on a circuit of his official duties. 
The judge was an excellent man, and was be- 
loved by all who knew him. His person was 
under the common size, his face pale, his coun- 
tenance as serene as if he had passed his life in 
a cloister ; there was no mark of passion, or re- 
sentment in any lineament of his physiognomy. 
He had been on the supreme bench for thirty 
years, and never had but one of his decisions 
overruled by the full court. He was so cautious 
and examined every subject so critically, and 
thoroughly, that he came to his results by a pure 
process of reasoning, freed from the prejudices 
and partialities which so easily beset human na- 
ture, even in high places, and responsible sta- 
tions. He was the favourite nephew of that 
great and good man who has given immortality 
to the name of Washington, and was his imme- 
diate successor at Mount Vernon. In this man- 
sion for many years he has displayed all the vir- 



252 JUDGE WASHINGTON. 

tues of domestic life and exercised all those hos. 
pitable feelings so prominent in the character of 
his illustrious uncle. Judfje Washington was 
not content with a faithful discharge of his du- 
ty as a magistrate only, but added to it the la- 
hours of a member of almost all the charitable 
societies of the country, which are so many 
sacrifices that go up to Heaven to be heard in 
mercy, to propitiate through a Kedeemer, the 
Father of all things toward his sinful children on 
Earth. His rank, talents, and influence in socie- 
ty did much to induce the wavering to join in 
the great work of philanthropy and religion and 
to keep steadfast those who had commenced the 
work in good earnest. He was for several years 
President of the Colonization Society, and deep- 
ly engaged in the objects of that association. He 
was a slave-holder, but he was not insensible to 
the evils of the system, which was every day 
impoverishing his native state, and diminishing 
her influence in the Federal government. He 
had the right feelings on the subject ; they were 
drawn from observation and experience, the true 
sources of intelligence and wisdom. 

Judge Washmgton was so unobtrusive in his 
manners, so delicate and refined in his feelinirs, 
that his merits were not sufficiently known to the 
great body of the people, for them to estimate 
his intellectual and moral worth correctly. Like 
his uncle, he died childless, and left his estate 



JUDGE WASHINGTON. 253 

to a collateral branch of his family, who will now 
take his place at the hospitable mansion of the 
great patriot and chieftain, whose name belongs 
to his country ; of whom it was wisely said, that 
" Heaven wrote him childless, that millions might 
find in him a father. Mount Vernon should no 
longer be the property of an individual, for it has 
become a place of pilgrimage for every patriot 
traveller of the land ; and foreigners too, consi- 
der the spot where the ashes of Washington re- 
pose, as hallowed ground. His bones should 
ever be mouldering there, and never be removed 
from these abodes of primitive simplicity. The 
nation should be proprietors of the soil ; the na- 
tion should guard the dead, and individuals of 
his family should be relieved from the perpetual 
vigils at his tomb, which the veneration of the 
people for the memory of Washington have 
made it indispensably necessary for them to 
keep. The capitol is not a proper place for the 
ashes of the dead. It should be the lonely spot, 
or the chancel of the house of God. No echoes 
of angry passions, or party strife, should be 
heard in the chambers of the mighty dead ; no 
sound should there be heard but that of prayer 
and mournful music. The end of mortal man 
is there ; the hopes of immortal man is there ; 
and " procul, o procul este profani." 



XiETTSR XXXZ. 



New.Yorh, -, 1830. 

Dear Sir, 

I HAVE given you but a meagre account 
of the men of mind in the United States. The 
shght outline, perhaps I may have an opportu- 
nity to fill up during the course of the summer. 
Of the beautiful city of Philadelphia, I have said 
nothing, as I have not had sufficient opportuni- 
ties to select what is most striking in the char- 
acteristics of that literary and intelligent place. 
The people of Philadelphia have taken the lead 
m the arts, and set a good example to the other 
cities in the Union, which has been followed in 
some of them with great spirit. The people of 
this city have more excellent paintings than 
perhaps can be found in any other in the Uni- 
ted States. They have printed more editions of 
valuable works than other cities ; but perhaps the 
mass of inventive talent of the nation lies farther 
to the north. You would be amused to observe 
the activity of the inventors of this nation. The 
Patent Office within a year past has been under 
the care of a man of genius, of the first order of 



PATENT OFFICE. 255 

intellect ; his perceptions were rapid beyond 
description ; he had coursed over the whole field 
of invention in the ardour of youthful genius, 
and in every stage, believed that every track 
was that of his own footsteps. The elements 
of his mind to many of his friends seemed in a 
state of absolute confusion, and the images of 
things past, present and to come, to crowd 
upon him at once. He received the premi- 
um offered for a plan for the Capitol, and when 
it was altered, it was for economy sake, not for 
taste. His was decidedly better than the one 
built upon. Not a model ever came into his 
office for a patent that he did not declare that 
he had had some impression of the same thing, 
and that virtually, he was a prime inventor of 
it. Dr. Thornton was a man admired by all 
who knew him, for his genius, industry, good 
feelings and true philanthropy and charity, his 
feelinss and observations were those of a man 
who had thought much on every subject. The 
web of his fame was such, that if honestly ex- 
amined by the warp, one could find a thi-ead to 
match any other that could be exhibited. This 
office with a little of that encouragement that 
congress might bestow, might truly be made a 
museum of science. 

The Patent Office is now a subject of deep in- 
terest to the nation. By a law of the United 
States, passed among the early acts, and which. 



256 PATENT OFFICE. 

has been revised by several subsequent acts, the 
drawings and models of all the machines, and 
of new and useful inventions, for which a patent 
has been issued by the President of the United 
States, were required to be deposited in the Se- 
cretary's office ; and in a few years this increas- 
ed greatly in importance to the country, and re- 
quired large apartments for the models, and be- 
came, in a measure, a department of itself. 
Machines of complex principles and of great 
utility, have often been invented by men of but 
few literary acquirements, who could, with dif- 
ficulty, find words to convey the outlines of the 
principles brought to bear in their patent. 
Loose descriptions, that did not convey the 
meaning of the inventor, or such ones that satis- 
fied the inventor, but gave no correct informa- 
tion of the invention to others, were every day 
sent to the office, and produced no little confu- 
sion. This has been changed, in a great mea- 
sure, by time ; and not only descriptions of in- 
ventions are more accurate, but the models are 
more finished ; and of course the whole busi- 
ness of the office goes on more regularly. There 
are now nearly six thousand models collected 
in the ofl[ice ; many of them of exquisite work- 
manship, others of careless construction ; but 
they exhibit, as a whole, an interesting group of 
emblems, or representations, "in little" of what 
are occuping all parts of our country ; on the 



GENERAL REMARKS. 257 

Streams, the hills, within and without doors, in 
all places of business, are found the marks of 
mind involving all the great principles of na~ 
ture and science. 

From these reasoners on motion and matter, 
we may proceed to another class of philosophers 
which may be less useful, but not less acute, 
the metaphysicians. This people reason an all 
things ; their institutions and the nature of their 
government in all its minor and major features 
induce this habit. They no sooner see effects 
than they go on to find out causes for them ; 
right or wrong, they must and will have a rea! 
son for everything. Untrammelled minds, how- 
ever wild they may run, have an air of indepen. 
dence about them. There are a great many 
errors of reasoning among free minds, but no 
errors of the market, as Lord Bacon calls those 
settled errors of thinking. They have no dog. 
mas in their creeds, nor hardly any creeds, but 
such as they alter every day. There is no state 
religion, and every oiie reasons upon God and 
his revelations, as he is persuaded in his own 
mind. 

If this would be bad in England and other 
countries, it is precisely suited to this people and 
their institutions. 

Having the literature of all the world before 
them, they are intelligent, producing some fine 
23 



258 GENERAL REMARKS. 

writers. The taste of criticism is cultivated be- 
fore they acquire the habit of writing. And in 
truth there are but few writers among them, ex- 
cept writers for periodical journals, considering 
the number of men capable of holding a pen. 
Opening their ports to all foreigners, and their 
literature, and taxing their presses with reprints, 
until the whole country is gorged with foreign 
literature, there is nothing to bring forward the 
offspring of their own minds. The growth of 
English literature was advanced by depreciating 
the French writers. The following couplet was 
constantly in the mouths of the English, 

" The sterling bullion of an English line, 

Drawn in French wire would tiirough whole pages shine."* 

This was false enough ; but it answered a 
good national purpose. German literature, which 
now is leading off, as among the highest in the 
world, was half a century ago, nothing ; because 
they depreciated their own writers, and read 
French works only. You ought not to judge 
this people by their writers ; for you might as 
fairly infer their dress from their manufacturing 
establishments, as their general knowledge from 
their writers. They dress in Enghsh broadcloth 
coats, and store their minds with English stand- 
ard works ; but this people will much sooner 
clothe themselves in their own woollens than 
increase their stock of knowledge by encour- 
aging their own authors. It is hard to break up 



GENERAL REMARKS. 259 

old habits ; the good matron will not be driven 
to moisten her lips, after her morning prayers 
or evening walk, with a decoction of sage and 
balm, when gun-powder and imperial teas are 
at hand. I must not be misunderstood — there is 
a spirit of education going on among the people, 
from the nursery to the pulpit, the bench, and to 
the halls of legislation ; all is full of life and im- 
provement ; no people under heaven have a 
greater mass of ready, wholesome, business lit- 
erature than this. There is much done, and 
that ably done in all the walks of life ; but in 
the regions of elevated, tasteful letters, but few 
are to be found ; and those few are seldom seen. 
They have no inducement to cultivate literature ; 
for as such, it is the most unprofitable of all 
things ; who would write a book when a fresh 
English one might be had from Campbell, Moore, 
or Mackintosh for little more than the price of 
untaxed paper? This is a people of liberal feel- 
ings and generous conduct ; they build churches, 
states houses, and colleges, but they have not 
as yet extended any thing like liberal patronage 
to their authors, if authors they may be called 
who, feeling the divinity within them,'occasion- 
ally hazard property and quiet, to vent them- 
selves in prose or rhyme. 



ERRATA. 

Page 13, line 13, for 1809, read 1812. 

Page 41, line 7, from bottom, after advantages, dele period ;— and 

line 8 afier fashion add a period. 
Page 4-3, line 4, from lop,/wr His often" read It is often. 
Page 153, line 7, from top, for George G. Percival read James G. 

Percival, 
Page 170 lines 6 & 7 from top,/or precious, read, precocious, 
Page 67, 1st line, for sage whom all men, read sage from whona 

all men, etc. 



